A band that starts off their second album with, "Here's the kickoff / hope you're not sick of / Relient K," is setting themselves up for obvious preconceived ideas of the disc before it's heard. That leaves Relient K with some pretty big shoes to fill for The Anatomy of the Tongue and Cheek. That being said, track two, "Pressing On," saves a lot of face. Immediately there is a recognizable difference in this album compared to their first. Relient K is now harder rocking (thanks in part to a very un-Nashville-like mix). While the first record almost completely consisted of silly light hearted jests, The Anatomy... alternates from silly puns to heart-felt passionate lyrics.
With song titles like "May the Horse be With You" and "Sadie Hawkins," it is obvious that they are still holding on to the high school mentality that characterized their first release, but along comes "Words Are Not Enough," which is an admirable attempt at a pure rocking praise song. And "Curb" is an acoustic number that proves that Matt Thiessen can hold his own vocally. These songs, as well as "Less is More" and "Failure to Excommunicate," are a mature voice for Relient K, who have woven violins, piano, and horns into these numbers.
This is a clear indication of an avenue Relient K could further explore when ready. The Anatomy... definitely seems to be a transitional album.
Other coverage for this album
The Rebel Base 2002Reviewed by Mark BakerSometimes, the best way to prove a point is to use an irony or sarcasm. When the prophet Nathan confronted David about his sin, he used an analogy. Relient K uses some of these techniques to make their truth-filled lyrics make a greater impact on listeners. Relient K's sophomore album, The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek hosts 17 impressive songs that mock clichés such as "Maybe It's Maybelline,"…The Rebel Base 2002Reviewed by Josh HurstWhen Switchfoot released their third album, Learning to Breathe, many critics commented on how much the band matured between their sophomore album, New Way to Be Human, and their new one. They were right, too- Jon Foreman's lyrics were deeper, the band's playing was more skillful, and the production was sharper than anything Switchfoot had done before. Well, it appears that pop/punk outfit…ReAL Magazine 2001Reviewed by Adam L.There is good punk, there is bad punk, and there is punk so bad that only a mother could love it. Which, when you think about it is kind of funny, since I haven't heard reports of throngs of 30+ mothers at any punk shows lately. After several years of hanging around local clubs that let punk bands in, I've become accustomed to plugging my ears and waiting for the agony to be over. This is not the…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Brian A. SmithRelient K bills themselves as "sublime, silly, and sacred." They definitely succeed on the silly and the sacred--whether or not they achieve the sublime is up to the listener to decide. Their music can best be described as an amalgamation of punk and pop, their sound like that of Goldfinger crossed with "Weird" Al Yankovic. Matthew Thiessen (vocals/guitar), Matthew Hoopes (guitar), Brian Pittman…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Matt WilliamsThe ever-graying borders of musical genres have been blurred once again, this time on Relient K's sophomore release, The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek, an album showing tremendous growth since their debut. Easily labeled as a "happy-music punk band" on their self-titled debut, Relient K has kept their fun loving, tongue-in-cheek nature readily available on ...Anatomy..., but has also opted to…Similar sounding releases
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