Relient K - Collapsible Lung (Album Review)

I've been a long time Relient K fan. I remember seeing this band for free back when their first album had just been released. I've seen the band go on a wild ride with their sound, image, record deals, line-up changes, and about anything a band can do over a 12-13 year span. I've enjoyed some of their albums more than others. I think this album shows that sometimes bands just really do what they want to do.

There is no doubt this album will be compared to Relient K's last effort Forget And Not Slow Down. That's fair, but this album is a different thing in a lot of ways. It's a little more radio friendly, a little more on the pop side, and it has some interesting dance type elements in some of the songs. After a good solid listen the last two tracks on the album "Sweeter" and "Collapsible Lung" stuck out to me and I think those two songs close the album out nicely. In a way this album harkens back to some of the sentiment found on the bands earlier albums and still at times and on certain songs you can find some of the maturity the band has come to incorporate in their material over the years. "Can't Complain" sounds like the best Jack Johnson song that Jack Johnson never wrote. I really like the laid back vibe of the song and I like the placement of it in the middle of the album. The title track is one of the best songs on the album and capturs some of what I've come to really like about Relient K. It's a solid pop/rock song and I like the quirky lyrics. Overall I'd describe the sound found on most of the album as alternative pop/rock. The music is well written and for the most part the band pulls off what they are doing really nicely. Matt Thiessen has a great voice and he really showcases his range throughout the album.

The album has a decent flow. The biggest criticism I have is over the song "Boomerang" which feels really out of place as the second track and in a weird way it disrupts the flow early on. I think that's the blemish on the album. It would have probably been better left as a b-side. I say that because I wouldn't put it in the middle nor would I put it at the end because I like the placement of the songs that close the album.

I've heard good and bad things about this album. I think I can safely say that I like it. It's not my favorite Relient K album, but I love how catchy and poppy the album is. I think it's a grower of a pop album in that some of the songs are instantly accessible and others take a few listens to appreciate. I didn't expect the album to sound like this. I expected something more in vein of Forget And Not Slow Down. I was pleasantly surprised the band decided to take a different route on this album. Honestly on first listen I found myself enjoying this a little more than Relient K's last album. I know I might take some heat for that, but I really do just like a well done pop album like this one.