by Chris Alexion, Copyright May 21, 2006, all rights reserved. 291 views
My brother recently picked up The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek, Relient K's sophomore album. I'm not usually impressed with albums as a whole, especially on the first listen. But Anatomy is solid, and, in my view, better than the later Two Lefts Don't Make a Right and maybe even Mmhmm. The music is pure punk, filled with rhythmic guitars and exuding youth and energy. Actually, I shouldn't say the music is pure punk; the guys from Ohio have sprinkled the album with several thoughtful and melodious tracks.
Lyrically, Matt Theissen ranges from off-the-wall farce ("Sadie-Hawkins Dance," "May the Horse Be with You") to biting commentary and grateful reflection. "Pressing On" is an upbeat look at the converted life, balanced by "Maybe It's Maybelline," which takes issue with the human tendency to pass blame. "Maybe it is them / Maybe it is me / Or maybe it's Maybelline." "Down in Flames" satirizes modern evangelical tendencies to fight about everything except what really matters: "We're baby pacifists / we're throwing fits / we don't shake hands; we shake our fists. / We're cannibals; we watch our brothers fall / we eat our own, the bones and all."
I'm not a huge CCM fan, partly because of the tendency of many Christian artists to lapse into both musical and lyrical mediocrity. But Relient K is a bright spot. I'm not sure how to phrase this, but they're not afraid to sing purely "secular" songs; yet at the same time, they pull off more "Christian" tracks with taste and reverence. Hats off to them.
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