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Forget and Not Slow Down Nov 15, 2009
Forget and Not Slow Down is diverse, ranging from rock songs to a piano balad. The instruments used are realistic and have great tone quality. The lyrics are filled with Relient K's clever style. From the fun, bouncy songs to the beautiful tear-jerkers, there is insight and wisdom embedded into the entire album. The more I listen to it, the more I love it.
Simply amazing. Nov 15, 2009
Relient K has done it again with their sixth full-lenth album, Forget and Not Slow Down. The album was born after a recent break-up frontman Matt Thiessen went through. It is not a typical break-up album--it won't leave the listener bored with meaningless lyrics about the writer feeling sorry for himself. Instead, it offers a positive perspective on breakups and life in general. Forget and Not Slow Down keeps listeners on edge bringing something new to the table with each song.
The first tune is the title track. With it's catchy guitar riffs, and witty and singable lyrics, it is definitely classic Relient K and one of the better on the record. The lyrics on this tune are great. Thiessen pleads, "I'd rather forget and not slow down than gather regret for the things I can't change now. If I become what I can't accept, resurrect the saint from within the wretch. Pour over me and wash my hands of it." He points to God yet again saying, "it could be blinding depending on the amount of You that I reflect." This song is sure to get stuck in your head--a perfect way to start the new record.
Next is the fantastic tune, "I Don't Need a Soul" which starts off with a killer piano riff followed by the guitars and drums. This is the song the band is most proud of, and it shows. It is definitely dominated by Thiessen's fantastic vocals (which seem to get better with each record) and his piano playing. The chorus is incredibly catchy and once again offers hope, "I don't need a soul to hold. Without you I'm still whole. You and life remain beautiful." It slows down at the bridge with some strings and then kicks back in full swing ending with the killer piano yet again. Every time I hear this song, I can't help but sing along. It is one of my favorites on the record, and I think it will be a favorite for others too.
After the awesomeness of "I Don't Need a Soul," it seems like it would be a tough thing to follow up with something great, but Relient K pulls it off again with another one of my favorites, "Candlelight" - a cheery, upbeat song about the beauty of a certain girl. The first time I heard this song, the infectious guitar riff at the beginning and Thiessen's fantastic singing, "To know her is to love her" instantly put a smile on my face. I think Matt Thiessen is one of those who gets better with age. I could sing this song all day long and never get bored. The cleverness that Matt Thiessen is known for once again shows through the lyrics: "Oh please don't seat us in the back with all the insects and the trash. She is a lady, I'm a tramp. Collecting stares from pairs close by, then flutters in a butterfly - Ew, just a moth drawn to the lamp." Thiessen goes on to compare her to the sun making this a beautiful, happy, lyrically great tune.
"Candlelight" is followed by another great tune, "Part of It" (the "I'm the Cusack on the lawn of your heart" line makes me smile ever time) and then the most God-focused on the album, "Therapy." The bridge is almost like Thiessen is praying when he says, "Loneliness and solitude are two things not to get confused because I spend my solitude with You. I gather all my questions of the things I just can't get straight, and I answer them the way I'd guess You'd do." This song is sure to do well on the Christian markets.
Next comes the album's only miss (if you could even call it that), "Over It." Even the title is a little bit hokey. The chorus simply goes, "I'm over it. Yeah, behind me now, I'm just over it. No, I don't know what's over just yet but I won't go slow and time can let the mind forget." The song is nice and would fit well on a previous Relient K album, but with the rest of Forget and Not Slow Down being so incredibly good, "Over It" falls a little short.
Don't worry, Relient K gets back into the swing of things with the gritty song, "Sahara" which is the hardest on the album. Thiessen's lyrics should again be noted: "A lion on his side, was it the lying or his pride which brought him down? Once the king of beasts but now they feast on the thoughts beneath his vacant crown." The last part of this song is absolutely killer. It features Aaron Gillespie from The Almost/Underoath, Tim Skipper from House of Heroes in the bridge, and Matt Macdonald from The Classic Crime in the last chorus. "Sahara" would most certainly do well with live audiences. Amazing.
After this intense rocker, the listener is almost jolted to the sweet sounds of "Oasis" which is the introduction to my absolute favorite on the record, "Savannah." This tune is unlike anything Relient K has ever done, and it works wonders. It starts off with a catchy plucking cello number that lifts your spirits instantly and invites you to listen to the rest of the song, which is just as amazing. It's a cheerful song that sort of goes on an imaginary journey if everything were to be okay between Thiessen and his former girlfriend. "I know you'd be there 'cause you'll know I'll want you to be there and we'll say, 'hello' as I'm smiling in love. And we'll sigh so relieved, I believe, because we will both know by tonight that we're normal again. But until then..." The percussion is amazing on this song, and we have Ethan Luck to thank for that. In fact, all the drums on this record are outstanding.
After the gem that is, "Savannah" comes "If You Believe Me" and then the 2-track closer, "This is The End" and "(If You Want It)" which is most certainly one of the most emotional songs Thiessen has ever written. The beginning is a near classical piano part with Matt softly singing, and then the song takes a complete 180 degree turn to become the second hardest song on Forget and Not Slow Down. It's full of so much angst and emotion and features some of the most honest lyrics on the album. You can really feel the pain in Thiessen's voice, and it is amazing. After screaming, "This is the end!" the song halts again and turns into "(If You Want It)," a completely piano-driven ballad which once again showcases Thiessen's emotional side and his incredible lyrics. He contemplates either the girl, or love, or life in general with the words, "I met the devil and I stared her in the eyes. Her hair had scales like silver serpents, I, a statue, stood there mesmerized. I took the fire escape and made it out alive. Yeah, I still burn from time to time but I've a healing hand against my side." They are strong, but they work well. Really well. And then the song ends, almost unfinished, bringing it back to the desert analogy of "Sahara" with the words, "Blisters on my feet I crawl back home. Frozen from the sleet burned sand and stone. Nourished back to life by life alone. With one shake of the mane regain the throne." It seems almost open-ended, and yet there's a hope that speaks long after the song has ended.
If you are an old Relient K fan, you will appreciate the growth that the band has experienced through the album. If you are a new fan, you will be amazed. Matt Thiessen has shown incredible maturity in his songwriting through both the lyrics and melodies. The vocals are also outstanding. The addition of drummer Ethan Luck proves to be a good decision as he enhances the songs with his musical genius. Jon, John, and Matt Hoopes also show growth and maturity through the overall sound of the record. Forget and Not Slow Down is, without a doubt, Relient K's best work to date.
Relient K Will Never Slow Down! Nov 13, 2009
Relient K has yet to disappoint me. When I found out they were releasing a new album; I was beyond stoked! Nothing they have ever put out has been bad to me! I've followed the since The Anatomy of the Tongue and Cheek, and I've absolutely been in love with them! "I Don't Need a Soul"and "Candlelight" are my favorites! This album doesn't include the quirky, fun lines and song-titles such as "Mood Rings" and "Pink Tux to the Prom", but nevertheless, Relient K does a great job with this album! Pick it up if you haven't already. Recommended If You Like: House of Heroes, Switchfoot, graciousness, The Rocket Summer, Mae, Oasis
With flow and variety and a passion, Relient K takes us in Nov 12, 2009
On the latest of Relient K I find myself falling into a world of heartbreak, but seeing the way out. Matt Thiessen is just so good at making amazing lyrics. And despite going through a break up and writing about the terrible events included in that, he still finds the optimism in it and shows us the light at the end of the tunnel. i just love everything he writes. Altogether the cd is just amazing musically too! With all the outros it is truly a flowing masterpiece. Plus, it has all the variety and different sounds in it, from Sahara's "rock on" spirit to candlelight light beat that gently pushes along. I just feel like Relient K can't go wrong. I know they don't have the exact same sound as before, it's almost like they're kinda indie like now, but that's awesome. It really shows they are maturing. And if they did have the same song it'd be old by now. I say change is good, and Relient K gets that.
A different drummer but the same old beat Nov 11, 2009
There is no doubt that the music on this album is different from Relient K's older albums. Relient K is maturing in so many ways - their refined songwriting skills and musicianship are evident on this album, the lyrics of the songs seem more sincere, and the band as a whole is evolving into something new - but they still have the same upbeat optimism and witty lyrics. This album represents a grown-up Relient K; they've made a lot of progress from a song like "Staples" (on their first album) to "Savannah." It takes a few listens to get used to the new style, but if you listen closely, the essence of the Relient K that you know and love is still there.
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