Punk music and worship. That's quite the combo. But, that is what you get in
Christian music, quite the variety. Besides a couple of new worship releases
this week, we also have some punk releases, including the first CD from MxPx
in about three years. Also, we finally got around to raving how great
Relient K's new disc is, so check that out too.

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TWO LEFTS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT... BUT THREE DO - RELIENT K (2003)
by Rick Foux

Welcome aboard the rK Express. I'll be your tour guide for today as we
explore every last nook and cranny of Relient K's third album, Two Lefts
Don't Make a Right….but Three Do. Some stopping points on our tour include,
but are not limited to: musical improvement amongst all band members, more
memorable and well-produced songs, minor cases of dreaded, meaningless
lyrics, nostalgia, and finally, the location of the best song on the record.
I'd like to ask you to remain seated at all times, because in spite of the
band's rapid growth of maturity, it's going to be a wild ride, as always.
Please do not feed the moose.

We begin our scenic journey with "Chap Stick, Chapped Lips, and Things Like
Chemistry." This opening punk number slams rhythmic guitars and pulsing
drums towards the back of your ear canal, promoting excessive head-nodding
and feet-tapping. It also sheds light on several important facts, one of
them being how far Relient K has moved away from their traditional punk
roots and Power Ranger-like morphing into the heavy pop/rock act they are
today. Secondly, you'll instantly notice a tighter cohesiveness amongst the
band's instrumentation than on previous efforts - these payoffs make for a
much better sound than Anatomy of the Tongue and Cheek had. But forgive me,
I've prattled on too much. Moving right along…

Next we visit the pointless philosophies of "Mood Rings" and the much
lower-key "Falling Out." The latter is the first track to contain any traces
of a message whatsoever: "I won't think twice or even three times / about
taking a gamble with you / cause with my life you have been so kind / I take
all my comfort from you," but unfortunately it lacks the traditional rK
charm that draws you into the song and then holds you captive until it
concludes. "Mood Rings," on the other hand, begins with a couple of
soft-spoken verses about explosive girls and then explodes into the chorus
itself. Overall, Matt Thiessen's plan to get all girls to wear mood rings is
a noble one indeed, but the concept barely makes for a listen-worthy cut.
Unfortunately, a few other tracks fall into this same category, such as
"Hoopes I Did It Again," "Gibberish," and "From End to End." We won't be
stopping at these tunes during our tour, but you may take snapshots as we
pass by.

Further ahead on the disc, we see an entourage of notable Relient K
material. "Forward Motion" leads the pack with clean harmonies by the boys
and a clever take on perseverance: "To experience the bitter sweet / to
taste defeat / then brush my teeth." If you'll look to your left, you can
see Dave Douglas recreating the infamous 80's drum loop for the nostalgic
"In Love With the 80's (Pink Tux to the Prom)." While it happens to be
another pointless lyrical diversion, it's the most fun one on the record,
citing recognizable 80's icons and even musically resembling something from
two decades ago. More zaniness abounds when Thiessen glorifies the plight of
most "College Kids" in song. His quick-witted lyrics descriptively hit the
bullseye, and this song, along with "Trademark," makes a move back into punk
territory. Although both feature sharp, bouncy guitar chords, "Trademark"
makes stupendous use of them to accompany an open scolding on pride and
self-centeredness.

We're nearing the end of our tour now, ladies and gentlemen, but there are
still some notable stopping points left. Specifically, "Overthinking" and "I
Am Understood?" Sonically, "Overthinking" resembles your standard, upbeat
rock anthem, but in actuality, the lyrics prove it to be a cross between a
love song and a bitter break-up song: "And while I'm able / I think I'll
label / experience with you as a mistake… / if you're my dream please come
true." Adversely, listening to the first few seconds of "I Am Understood?"
leads one to believe that it's the mellow, soul-stirring ballad of the
album, but further listening reveals it to be the most intense cut yet. Epic
vocal harmonies cross stellar, grinding strings to create a flammable punk
outburst with a desperate, worshipful plea: "Your voice has broken my
defense / let me embrace salvation."

Our last stop today might not be something you're accustomed to, but for
Relient K it's a huge step in the right direction. The comfortable
"Jefferson Aero Plane" to your right comes equipped with steady, paced
guitar riffs, enjoyable yet meaningful lyrics, and most importantly, heaps
of experimentation with piano, programming, and voice effects. This results
in an energetic, pop-laced sing-along and undoubtedly the best track on the
CD. Furthermore, if you remain on the "Jefferson Aero Plane," it will
provide you an entertaining visit with "The Worst Freestyle Rapper Ever."
Since our tour has officially come to a conclusion, we won't have time to
take this conjuncture today. However, feel free to check it out on your own
time.

As you can see, Relient K has undergone ample growth and maturity since
their last effort, shaping Two Lefts... to be a bold, flavorful project.
Much of the punk sound we've grown accustomed to on their debut has
vanished, but strides such as "I Am Understood?" and "Jefferson Aero Plane"
offer a new direction for the band: let's just hope that they take it in the
future. Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the rK Express I'd like to say,
"Thank you," for riding with us today, and please watch your step as you
exit the vehicle.

Read more about Relient K at cMusicWeb.com:
http://cMusicWeb.com/rock/relientk


OTHER NEW STUFF ON cMUSICWEB.COM

Review: Can't Bring Me Down - Justin Fox Band
http://cMusicWeb.com/rock/justinfoxband/cantbringmedown.shtml

Views: Sing Praise However You Choose
http://cMusicWeb.com/views/archiveashley/singpraisehoweveryouchoose.shtml


AVAILABLE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 (at cMusicWeb.com or your local music store)

PURCHASE THIS MUSIC AND MORE AT GRASSROOTSMUSIC.COM:
http://www.grassrootsmusic.com/?associateid=249

AND WE DRIVE - SIDE WALK SLAM
The typical Tooth and Nail punk rock band, Side Walk Slam will deliver more
punk hits on this, their latest album. It would be more interesting if they
were different from everyone else.

THE BEAUTY OF SIMPLICITY - TELECAST
Aaron Sprinkle produces the debut of Washington state band Telecast, which
brings a new face to pop/rock sounding worship music. Catch them opening for
Jeremy Camp this fall.

BEFORE EVERYTHING AND AFTER - MXPX
Christian punk group MxPx's 10+ year career continues with Before Everything
And After. However, some fans are not happy with the more pop-punk sound,
although it should get them even more attention. The disc even features
cameos of friends from Good Charlotte, The Ataris, and New Found Glory.

DIFFERENT KIND OF FREE - ZOEGIRL
Expect a bit more rock/pop sound from this trio of women. I guess that must
be the different part, but I'm not sure. Basically, the pre-teens will love
this stuff.

ILLUMINATE - DAVID CROWDER BAND
One of the most anticipated worship releases this year, the return of the
David Crowder Band finds edgy production mixed with passionate worship. This
is the PICK OF THE WEEK.

THE PAUL WRIGHT EP - PAUL WRIGHT
Gotee seems to think that you cannot wait until Paul Wright's full-length
debut comes out. So, they offer an EP, which reveals that Wright is a
versatile musician, flowing from pop to hip-hop to reggae just in the space
of the EP.

SACRED REVOLUTION DVD - PASSION
If you missed OneDay03 (or want to live it again) you need to buy this DVD.
See the music, hear the teachings, pray along with thousands, all on this
DVD with over 4 hours of footage.

WASH OVER ME - VINEYARD MUSIC
Live from a youth conference in the Toronto area, this disc features some of
the best worshippers in Vineyard, plus the producing talent of former
Sonicflood member Jason Halbert, and the ever-inspiring DJ Andy Hunter on
the turntables for an updated Vineyard sound.


Thanks for reading this week's cMusicMail, and we'll be back next week with
even more great content. If you have any comments or questions, please reply
to this e-mail or send them to webmaster@.... We'd love to hear
from you!

Dan Ficker
http://cMusicWeb.com/
a different approach to music
AOL IM - dMusicWeb