Relient K brings a serious side to pop on Forget and Not Slow Down
Posted by The Skyliner on October 21st, 2009Jordan Ecarma
Staff Writer
“I’d rather forget and not slow down/Than gather regret for the things that I can’t change now.”
The opening title track of Forget and Not Slow Down, the new album from Relient K, is lyrically and vocally one of the best moments on the album. While Relient K is known as a Christian band, and there are definite Christian touches to this album, Forget is essentially a thinly-veiled breakup record.
But if Matt Thiessen, Relient K’s lead singer and main songwriter, set out to make an album about an ended relationship, at least it is from a Christian perspective.
“Without you I’m still whole/[God] and life remain beautiful,” he sings on “I Don’t Need a Soul (To Hold).” The story of Thiessen’s romance can be quite easily seen in these tracks. Songs like “Candlelight” and “Savannah” recall happier times and describe a significant other in loving terms. “Therapy” holds the moment of being on the edge of a breakup. And Thiessen moves on with “Over It.” The importance of getting past a relationship’s end seems to be the focus of this record. The key word here is “forget.”
Not slowing down, however, did not seem to be a goal musically. Much of the album is composed of slower, more introspective tracks, not usually a characteristic of the band.
There are several musical interludes between songs that are intended for album flow, a technique borrowed straight from the Beatles. That makes sense after Relient K said on their MySpace page that they chose to go for a more “classic rock” sound on this album, bringing in only real instruments. This choice resulted in a fresher, organic sound. Much of this album is reminiscent of Relient K’s earlier efforts, with thankfully less polish than the rather commercial last record, Five Score and Seven Years Ago.
Matt Thiessen can be forgiven and even applauded for attempting a breakup album. Many iconic records have come out of ended relationships. Musically the album is pleasant, if a little too understated. But Relient K here occasionally falters on lyrics. As a band known for cultural references, especially on the earlier records, the enigmatic qualities to some of their words today are rather puzzling. For instance, “Sahara” describes “a lion on his side.” Are the words ultimately deep or meaningless? For a band that used to sing about mood rings and Chap Stick, this song is quite a departure.
There are some standout tracks on this album, where Thiessen finds the balance between documenting his personal life and contributing to the world of music. The title track is both exquisitely thoughtful lyrically and moving vocally. “If You Believe Me” brings a fresh approach to a romance on the rocks. And “This is the End (If You Want It)” is almost searing as it describes the absolute end of a relationship: “So think real slow/Don’t forget that yes is yes and no is no . . . This is the end/If you want it.”
While Relient K still has some honest moments lyrically, they seem to rely on double meanings in this album. That signature sense of humor seems to be missing here. Maybe they have just gotten a little too serious. But Forget is a breakup record, after all.
Tags: Fall 2009, Vol. 109 - Issue 6