I read quite a few reviews of this record on the forums, and after having a few people ask me for my thoughts I went out and bought ‘Mmhmm’ so I could give my twopenneth. Now that’s dedication to the cause. Relient K are major label, mainstream pop-punkers more akin to latter day MxPx than anything else in the genre. It means that while they can still whack out a high-tempo three-chord wonder from time to time, they can be as equally guilty of putting together a sappy ballad or two. ‘Mmhmm’ is a mixture of both – with the first half of this record far more upbeat and energetic than the second.
‘Mmhmm’ should probably come with a parental advisory sticker on the front because it will quite possibly rot your teeth – this is one hell of a sugary-sweet record. From the opening strains to the very last, ‘Mmhmm’ oozes melody. It’s the kind of record that you’ll adore if you like New Found Glory or Fallout Boy, or detest with a passion if those two names repulse you and make you want to vomit in an Exorcist-esque fashion. To be honest, with songs as catchy as ‘The One I’m Waiting For’ and ‘High Of 75’ you can see why so many PT-ers have said so many positive things about them. The first half of this album is very energetic and much fun – ‘Be My Escape’ has an interetsing piano part at the start and an insanely catchy chorus, while ‘I So Hate Consequences’ is another little gem.
And so it continues, as ‘The Only Thing Worse Than Beating A Dead Horse Is Betting On One’ flies past in just over a minute, while ‘Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been’ is catchier than MRSA. Throw in songs like ‘Life After Death & Taxes’ and you’ve got a fun and energetic record that begs to be listened to when the days are hot and the sky is blue. So why three-and-a-half-stars I hear you ask? Well, unoriginality aside, there are a few really skippable songs here. ‘Let It All Out’ is a real yawn-a-thon, while some of the others tend to drag on a little bit. At 14 songs and 50 minutes you certainly get your moneys worth in terms of length! I can see Relient K‘s appeal, and if you like your music perky and poppy then these guys are the band for you. Don’t expect a life-changing experience, but they’re well worth checking out all the same.
www.relientk.com
Capitol
Paul