Release
Date: 2 July 2013
Genre: Alternative
Rock, Pop Rock
Length: 38:12
Label:
Mono vs. Stereo
Similar
artists: House of Heroes, Switchfoot, Hawk Nelson, Run Kid Run
Rating: 4/5
For bands that have been around for such a long time it is
not uncommon to see them take a more adventurous route in
order to keep their creativity and excitement alive. Relient K, who have been around now for
over a decade, are no exception to this, as is proved with their latest record
entitled Collapsible Lung. Keeping
that in mind I’d say that this is the most surprising record we have seen from them to date.
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding this record due to the fact that many people think that it
is too far off from the Relient K we
have come to know and love. In a way I agree, I mean this record is seriously
different, but it actually isn’t bad at all, it just isn’t what we are used to.
Besides the great difference between each song on the record, the biggest
difference I think in comparison to previous records that they have released
is the songwriting.
Eight of the eleven tracks feature co-writers such as
Ari Levine (Cee Lo Green, Bruno Mars), Fernando Garibay (Lady Gaga), and Evan
Bogart (Beyonce, Rihanna). With this in mind, it makes more sense to me as to
why this record has such a wide variety within itself and why as a whole the
record doesn’t necessarily fir together perfectly. In addition the lyrics lack
a certain purposeful framework. In this record we find tracks related to dysfunctional
relationships ("Boomerang," "Gloria,"
"Disaster"), life regrets ("Lost Boy," "PTL") and
reflections on happy times ("Don't Blink," "If I Could Take You
Home," "When You Were My Baby"), resulting in what I think is a
record that is too incoherent and not what you would expect from a seasoned
band such as this.
And do you know what? I don’t even care. I love this record.
It is the kind of record that you can sing along to and jam to in traffic. If
you ask me, I think the Christian music scene needs more records like this one.
Some people may think that the lyrics in this album have too much of a worldly
view, but if you ask me that is just what this world needs. What society often
doesn’t understand is that Christians suffer with everyday problems just like everybody
else and this is the kind of record that will appeal to non-Christians. I am a
firm believer that music is the best way to reach people, and so an album such
as this is quite possibly one of the best ways from believers to reach out to
non-believers.
That’s just me however; regardless I think
that this is just an insanely fun pop record that will be one of my favorites
of the year.
I really enjoyed this week’s Song of The
Week: “Don’t Blink”
D
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