by Emily Washington

Created on: April 11, 2009   Last Updated: April 12, 2009

Five Score and Seven Years Ago is, by far, Relient K's best album yet. Their style has been changing and evolving for 11 years now and they've come a long way in that time.

1] "Plead the Fifth" - What an amazing song! Most rock bands these days are too afraid to go a Capella with any of their music, but Matt and his boys really putt it off. This song has a strong Beach Boys vibe, great harmonies, and well written lyrics sure to make you think a little. I wish it lasted longer. (9/10)

2] "Come Right Out and Say It" - The melody of this song is really nice and it's got a catchy beat. The lyrics are so easy to relate to and they really seem to flow with the music. (8/10)

3] "I Need You" - One of the more dark sounding songs on the album. The minor key it's written in builds a strong base for the remorseful deep lyrics. (6/10)

4] "The Best Thing" - I love how they put this song right after "I Need You." It creates an interesting contrast between hopeless and hopefull, needy and content. This song's lyrics are very sweet and romantic. It's a good song for aniversaries. (10/10)

5] "Forgiven" - The way this song starts is really interesting. The lyrics are a little more abstract at first than most of their other songs. The way the way the pattern of the words matches the pattern of the piano's keystrokes in the verses really tie it together. The song is very heartfelt and intense. (7/10)

6] "Must Have Done Something Right" - I could listen to this song over and over. The catchy lyrics, happy melody and fun beat make it the prfect song to rock out to when you're in a good mood! (10/10)

7] "Give Until There's Nothing Left" - Again, this is a very heartfelt song. Theissen does a good job of bringing out the inocentce of the lyrics out with his sweet voice. (8/10)

8] "Devastation and Refom" - The wordplay in this song is very clever and the banjo elements added in really adds an interesting feel. The lyrics really flow and it's very easy to relate to. (7/10)

9] "I'm Taking You With Me" - This is such a romantic song. The lyrics are so sweet and the happy melody goes very well. (6/10)

10] "Faking My Own Suicide" - I love the idea behind this. It's another really romantic, sweet song. The twangy feel of the music contrast very well with Matt's voice, and the slow beat really tops it off. (8/10)

11] "Crayons Can Melt on Us For All I Care" - Wow, I'm not sure this even counts as a song. It does make me laugh every time i listen to it though. (I'm not going to rate it)

12] "Bite My Tongue" - Very clever wordplay again. The saucy melody adn sarcastic lyrics contadict the general theme of the song, creating an amusing sense of irony. (7/10)

13] "Up and Up" - This is a very optimistic song. Very upbeat and sincere, this is a good song to listen to when you're feeling down, regretful, or have lost confidence in yourself. It's very encouraging. (9/10)

14] "Deathbed" - Probaply the best song on the album. The music is increadibly well-composed, transitioning expertly from sad and slow to upbeat. The lyrics are both amusingly sarcastic and deeply touching. I think almost everyone can relate to this song in some way or another. The instrumental bridge is wonderful with such a variety of instruments that you usually don't find on a punk rock album. (10/10)

I think i'd give the ablbum as a whole am 8/10.

Learn more about this author, Emily Washington.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.