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Five Score and Seven Years Ago

 
Album Review: Five Score and Seven Years Ago
 

  • Artist: Relient K
  • Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: March 06, 2007
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rock

Review

At times sophisticated, redeeming, and preposterously silly, Relient K crafted a masterpiece of punk-based power pop on Five Score and Seven Years Ago, their fifth album in -- guess how long. The quintet's mature yet playful fare fell far from the fleeting superficiality that has plagued dozens of sound-alike groups. Frontman Matt Thiessen once again showed his knack for constructing a cohesive yet wildly diverse album of radio rock that satisfies every camp, from the band's grassroots Christian fans to the thousands who were introduced to them on the Vans Warped Tour. The album debuted at number six on the Billboard 200, a handsome feat considering the bandmembers still considered themselves "under the radar" at the time. One of the most striking differences between this and their early work is the appearance of love songs that end up happy. Lead single "Must Have Done Something Right" is a buoyant ode to healthy relationships using the band's trademark wit: "We should get jerseys/'Cause we make a good team." Tracks like "Up and Up," "I'm Taking You with Me," and "The Best Thing" are more earnest and positive than fans may typically expect. Other highlights include "Faking My Own Suicide" and the 11-minute album closer, "Deathbed," the latter of which was compared to every theatrical rock epic from the Who's "A Quick One While He's Away" to "Bohemian Rhapsody." Producer Howard Benson (Hoobastank, My Chemical Romance, All-American Rejects) added a radio-friendly sheen to every track. Rather than use the genre as a crutch, Relient K showed that a punk-pop record could truly be innovative and memorable with Five Score. ~ Jared Johnson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Pleading the Fifth [A Cappella] Matthew Thiessen Relient K (1:13)
Come Right out and Say It Matthew Thiessen Relient K (3:00)
I Need You Matthew Thiessen Relient K (3:18)
The Best Thing Matthew Thiessen Relient K (3:28)
Forgiven Matthew Thiessen Relient K (4:05)
Must Have Done Something Right Matthew Thiessen Relient K (3:19)
Give Until There's Nothing Left Matthew Thiessen Relient K (3:27)
Devastation and Reform Matthew Thiessen Relient K (3:41)
I'm Taking You with Me Matthew Thiessen Relient K (3:28)
Faking My Own Suicide Matthew Thiessen Relient K (3:23)
Crayons Can Melt on Us for All I Care Matthew Thiessen Relient K (0:12)
Bite My Tongue Matthew Thiessen Relient K (3:30)
Up and Up Matthew Thiessen Relient K (4:03)
Deathbed Matthew Thiessen Relient K (11:05)

Credits

Chris Lord-Alge (Producer), Chris Lord-Alge (Mixing), Howard Benson (Keyboards), Howard Benson (Organ (Hammond)), Howard Benson (Programming), Howard Benson (Producer), Paul DeCarli (Harmonica), Paul DeCarli (Digital Editing), Ted Jensen (Mastering), J.R. McNeely (Mixing), Ben Watts (Photography), Mike Plotnikoff (Engineer), Chris Carmichael (Violin), Chris Carmichael (Viola), Sunja Park (Design), Eric Roinestad (Art Direction), Keith Armstrong (Assistant), John Warne (Bass), John Warne (Vocals), Adam Deane (Assistant), Ned Brower (Vocals), Hatsukazu "Hatch" Inagaki (Tuba), Hatsukazu "Hatch" Inagaki (Engineer), Marc VanGool (Pedal Steel), Marc VanGool (Guitar Technician), Matthew Thiessen (Organ), Matthew Thiessen (Guitar), Matthew Thiessen (Percussion), Matthew Thiessen (Piano), Matthew Thiessen (Trombone), Matthew Thiessen (Trumpet), Matthew Thiessen (Euphonium), Matthew Thiessen (French Horn), Matthew Thiessen (Vocals), Matthew Thiessen (Producer), Matthew Thiessen (Penny Whistle), Matthew Thiessen (Toy Piano), Josh Auer (Vocals), Nik Karpen (Assistant), Jon Nicholson (Drum Technician), Jaime Feldman (A&R), Matthew Hoopes (Banjo), Matthew Hoopes (Guitar), Matthew Hoopes (Mandolin), Matthew Hoopes (Vocals), Jonathan Schneck (Guitar), Jonathan Schneck (Vocals), Megan Steinman (Art Direction), Ethan Luck (Drums), David Douglas (Drums), David Douglas (Vocals), Carol Robinowitz (Cello), Jon Foreman (Vocals)
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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more