Relient K

Relient K is a Christian pop punk band that was formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio. The band was named after Matt Hoopes's Plymouth Reliant Car.

Evolution of sound

Relient K released their self-titled album in 2000 on the Gotee Records. A large backer of the group was dc Talk's Toby Mac, Gotee's founder. Relient K's first album was distinctly pop punk and featured lyrics with a wide range of pop-culture references.

Related Topics:
Dc Talk - Toby Mac - Pop punk

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In 2001, the band released their second album. The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek. This album launched both Relient K and their sound to a whole new level. There were still plenty of pop-culture references on this album, which is evident in the hit single "Sadie Hawkins Dance." This album contained many more softer songs and slightly lighter guitars. They would continue chords through tracks in order to fluidly transition in between songs; this was also the case on their later albums.

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Their second album landed them in the Christian rock limelight, as they were then asked to do their rendition of the popular VeggieTales song "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" for the 2002 VeggieTales movie Jonah. This song mixes the sounds of The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek and Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do.

Related Topics:
Christian rock - VeggieTales - Jonah

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In 2003, Relient K released their third album: Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do. This seemed to be the album that could put Relient K into the secular spotlight just as Switchfoot would eventually do. Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do had four different covers of different colors, each depicting a car in some kind of wreck. This album felt half an octave lower than all their previous ones. As pop-culture references became less specific, sound and vocals became far more defined. Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do combined the soft, meaningful songs of The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek and threw in fast-paced songs with deep lyrics, though it leant more towards to pop side of pop-punk than their previous efforts.

Related Topics:
Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do - Switchfoot

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Since this album was released in March of 2003, Relient K released a bonus disc for Christmas, entitled Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand. It contained about half as many tracks as one of their normal albums but boosted their sales nonetheless.

Related Topics:
March - Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand

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In late 2004, the group released their long-expected fourth album: Mmhmm. Pop-culture references were even less specific than on their third album, if not nonexistent. The album was significantly more on the serious side with very few of the silly songs the band was known for. It also was much more piano-driven in parts (including an entire song, "Let It All Out"). In July 2005, the album was certified gold. Also, driven by newfound recognition from Mmhmm, Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do was also certified gold in spring 2005.

Related Topics:
Mmhmm - July 2005 - Certified gold

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The track "Be My Escape," which can be found on Mmhmm, is the band's most popular mainstream song to date. Its music video recently entered MTV's Top Ten,and landed them an appearance on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live. "Be My Escape" is also featured on Now! 19, a popular secular and quasi-annual compilation series.

Related Topics:
MTV - The Tonight Show - Jimmy Kimmel Live - Now! 19

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In early June 2005, the band was featured on MTV's "10 Spot Drop," which gave the band a boost in its popularity.

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