Last Friday, I had the opportunity to see Relient K and Switchfoot live at Hollywood Palladium, and it was amazing.
The concert was part of their co-headlined "Looking For America Tour" to promote their albums "Air for Free" and "Where the Light Shines Through," respectively.
I think both bands are incredible, but as I've mentioned before, Relient K holds a soft spot in my heart. As I was standing in the crowd singing my heart out to nearly every song that they played on stage, it made me think of just how formative their music has been for me and how much they've progressed and developed through the years.Naturally, this means that I'm going to attempt to rank all of Relient K's albums from least to greatest. This list will not cover their EPs or cover albums, which include "Is for Karaoke" (2011) and their Christmas album "Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer" (2008).
Now, without further ado...
8. Relient K (2000)
As a debut album, "Relient K" falls a little flat because it's forgettable. Despite that, It's still a fun and quirky introduction to the band, filled with equal parts pop culture references and anecdotal references to faith.Favorite tracks: "Softer to Me," "My Girlfriend," "Hello McFly."7. Collapsible Lung (2013)
Once a band has been around long enough, there's always an inevitable "experimental album" to shake things up and try something new. "Collapsible Lung" was Relient K's attempt at a more modern pop feel.Although "Collapsible Lung" is a solid album filled with catchy beats and riffs, it's a bit too generic for my taste and it pains me to rank it so low. It's good, but Relient K has done better.
Favorite tracks: "Collapsible Lung," "Don't Blink," "P.T.L."
6. The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek (2001)
While the band's second album "The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek" is definitely a direct follow-up to "Relient K" in terms of content and overall feel, but it pulls it off more successfully.
Unlike "Relient K," "The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek" strikes a healthy balance between indulgent and insightful.
Favorite tracks: "Sadie Hawkins Dance," "Pressing On," "For the Moments I Feel Faint."
5. Two Lefts Don't Make a Right... but Three Do (2003)
I'll admit, I'm a little biased towards "Two Lefts" because I listened to it so much that I literally have the whole thing memorized from end to end. I have fond memories of 12-year-old me learning to play guitar to many of the songs on this album.Favorite tracks: "Getting Into You," "Overthinking," "In Love with the 80's (Pink Tux to the Prom)."4. Five Score and Seven Years Ago (2007)
Not much to say about "Five Score and Seven Years Ago" other than that it's a solid Relient K album through and through.
Favorite tracks: "Must Have Done Something Right," "Devastation and Reform," "Deathbed."
3. Air for Free (2016)
Relient K's most recent release is also their big comeback. Three years after the mixed reception towards "Collapsible Lung," they suddenly dropped an album that was fresh, robust, and all-around delightful to listen to."Air for Free" is proof that Relient K is far from done with making great music.Favorite tracks: "Bummin'," "Cat," "Marigold."2. Mmhmm (2004)
Considered the most angsty (i.e. most punk) Relient K album, "Mmhmm" is also their most notable. It was well-known enough to even get a 10-year anniversary reissue, which is a testament to how much of an impact that album had and still has.Again, I'm probably a little biased since "Mmhmm" was actually my introduction to Relient K.
Favorite tracks: "Be My Escape," "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been," "Life After Death and Taxes (Failure II)."1. "Forget and Not Slow Down" (2009)
So we've already covered Relient K's experimental album "Collapsible Lung," which was okay, but not great. On the other hand, "Forget and Not Slow Down" is their emotional breakup album, influenced by lead singer Matt Thiessen breaking up with his fiancee the year before. Written in the span of three months while Thiessen secluded himself in Tennessee, "Forget and Not Slow Down," is raw, honest and organic. I listened to it obsessively when I first got the album, and in the times that I've listened to it over the years, it's still the Relient K album that I love every single track of.Favorite tracks: "Forget and Not Slow Down," "Savannah," "Sahara."
Do you agree with this ranking? Do you have an all-time favorite Relient K song/album?