MMHMM (CD - 2004)

Relient K: Matthew Hoope (vocals, guitar); Brian Pittman (bass guitar); Matthew Thiessen, David Douglas.

Personnel: Matthew Thiessen (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards, percussion); David Douglas (vocals, drums); John Davis & the Georgia Sea Island Singers, David Bunton, Kevin Kiehn, John Warne (vocals); Chris Carmichael (violin, viola); David Henry (cello).

Additional personnel: Rob Roy F. (guitar, banjo, percussion); Anthony Lucido (bass guitar); David Henry , Chris Carmichael, David Bunton, Kevin Kiehn, John Warne.

Audio Mixers: J.R. McNeely; Tom Lord-Alge.

Recording information: Dark Horse Studios, Franklin, TN; S-S-Studio, Spring Hill, TN.

After moving away from their patented pop/punk approach on 2003's Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...But Three Do, spiritual rockers Relient K revert back to their proven formula of yore on MMHMM. Christian punk sounds more like an oxymoron than a subgenre, but frontman/ lyricist Matt Thiessen wins with the subtle, poppy prose ("Live your life for those that you love") heard on "The One I'm Waiting For." Elsewhere, "High of 75" is wryly, albeit overly optimistic and if there's perhaps an abundance of upbeat songcraft, Relient K aren't always shiny, happy people. The best example of this is "Which to Bury; Us or the Hatchet?," where love turns to relation-sh*t and back again in a roaring, cathartic swirl. At times the lads in Relient K come off a bit too mainstream for their own good, but you've got to give them thanks for not going straight for the jugular the way so many other Christian rockers might. ~ John D. Luerssen

If anyone doubted the influential nature of Christian pop culture in the United States during 2004, they could be directed to the group Relient K, a shining example of crossover success with the mainstream. Though the ensemble is comprised of Born Again Christians and maintains a large following in the church-going world, the band's music offers few clues regarding the members' faith-based lifestyle. A melodic and finely-honed mix of pop-punk and emo, Relient K's sound combines substantial and upbeat--but never preachy--lyrics with all the best features of its entirely secular counterparts, including whip-tight musicianship, spot-on vocal harmonies, and mosh-ready beats. In addition, the band incorporates the strings, tinkling pianos, and gentle vocals of artists like Travis and Rufus Wainwright, adding a welcome dollop of gravity to the proceedings. Relient K's ace-in-the-hole, however, is its treatment of lyrical subject matter; forgoing blind faith in favor of frank acceptance and mature solutions, the group effectively blurs the line between CCM and mainstream rock. minimize