Relient K Five Score And Seven Years Ago Gotee Records Rock 03-06-2007

SCORE 90%

As Jesus was being crucified, He was flanked on either side by men who had earned their punishment. In fact, we've all earned that punishment. And the picture of the three crosses on the hill proves to be a great picture of the choice that we have to make in life: We can either accept or reject God's offer of forgiveness. It's a good reminder that we'll be faced with this decision at some point in our lives whether it's early on or at the very end, as we prepare to die, and that it's an offer open to everyone.

After a fair amount of success in both mainstream and Christian markets, Relient K finally offers listeners the highly anticipated follow-up to Mmhmm. And Five Score and Seven Years Ago picks up right where the group left off, adding some more melodies and a bit more pop than punk influences shading their rock style. Fans of lead singer Matthew Thiessen's side project (The Earthquakes) will be pleased to find more piano sprinkled throughout the album as well as the song, "Faking My Own Suicide." The album provides a nice balance of the ever maturing pop-rock sound that fans have enjoyed watching develop through the years as well as the additional influences of the mellow sounds and harmonies of groups like The Beach Boys.

Lyrically, Five Score addresses themes of relationship, specifically reconciliation, forgiveness and growing closer. Tracks like "I Need You" point out the importance of fellowship and community in life, while "Come Right Out and Say It" acknowledge the need for honest communication. "Forgiven" emphasizes the equality of our sins, pointing out that all of us are in need of forgiveness and drawing from the teachings of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount. Of course, no discussion about relationships would be complete without touching on the topic of romantic feelings. Five Score includes a few songs, namely "The Best Thing" and "Must've Done Something Right," which offer a first hand perspective on the subject. The album closes with "Deathbed," an epic, eleven-minute fictional biography that proves a magnificent capstone both musically and thematically for the album.

All in all, Relient K has managed to improve yet again with an album that shows their continual maturation as a band and as individuals. Accessible both lyrically and musically, Five Score and Seven Years Ago reaches beyond the surface level depth that one might expect from a pop-rock group and engages more critical listeners with an impressive amount of talent and meaning. Five Score is certainly worth checking out, and that's completely on the "Up and Up."