Relient K: Discography Ranking

Relient K. One of the greatest and most influential bands in both the Christian and Independent markets have one of the longest running discographies for a Christian rock band; Taking their musical journey from the edgy days of pop punk and punk rock, to the more midwestern styled days of alternative rock n' roll, to the more commercially driven days of pop rock, and even to the more indie rock styled music in recent years. This band is one of the scene's favorites so in honor of returning to discography rankings we will be ranking from worst to best all 8 studio albums from the alternative rock band Relient K.

*Please note that while we are ranking the discography this will not include the band's holiday releases, the b-side and rarities record, the covers record, or the live record.*

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Num. 8: "Collapsible Lung" (2013)

Let's start off by saying this "Collapsible Lung" is not a record that has aged well; the production is flawed, the lyrics are cheesy and cliqued, the themes are so by the numbers when it comes to a pop record released in this timeframe. But that's not to say that the record does not have some solid tracks amongst the overblown pop tracks; Don't Blink is a classic Relient K track and a good opener to an otherwise underwhelming release, Disaster is another classic sounding Relient K that has some "Five Score" elements to it, and the closing track Collapsible Lung is a gorgeous closer with an insanely catchy hook. But the rest of this record doesn't feel like the same band and it can be jarring with the shift in styles with each track. Boomerang could pass off as a Maroon 5 b-side, Can't Complain and PTL are laughable at best tracks that try too hard to be radio hits, and That's My Jam with Owl City is one of the worst if not the worst track that the band has ever crafted. This is not a good record; there's too many cons that outweigh the pros, the overblown pop lyrics have not aged well, and the attempts at making radio hits are laughable. While there are some solid tracks on the record the drastic shift from making some of the greatest pop punk and rock songs to making underwhelming pop hits is a blemish in the band's discography.

Num. 7: "Relient K" (2000)

The band's first full length record is yet another one of those instances where you have a record that is laughably bad in some spots that it makes it hard to listen to. While the record as a whole is considerably as bad or in some cases worse than the previous entry the pros on this record are considerably higher than the previous entry; Hello McFly is not a great track but it has so much nostalgia to it that it's instantly lovable, (Marilyn Manson Ate) My Girlfriend is another example of a track being so mediocre but the nostalgic factor being so high; also who could forget that music video, Softer To Me is honestly one of the better tracks to come out of the early 2000's era of Relient K as the track though not perfect has some real grit to it that makes it an instant favorite, Everything Will Be is another instant favorite from the record as it's hook is instantly catchy. While in some cases much worse than the previous entry the band's self-titled debut has enough nostalgia and memorable hooks to leave the record with a flawed yet underwhelming stamp of passing.

Num. 6: "The Anatomy Of The Tongue In Cheek" (2001)

"Anatomy" has become an instant fan favorite over the years as this record improved on almost everything that their first record did before it, the first record's main problem was a lack of vision and though this record is not perfect there so many tracks on this record that are classics in the genre for a reason. Pressing On is a fan favorite for a reason as it's opening riff is instantly recognizable to any pop punk fan of this era, Sadie Hawkins Dance is yet another track off the record that is instantly recognizable with it's riff and hook, I'm Lion-O is a great track with so much Thunder Cats love, Failure To Excommunicate is one of the band's more darker in tone tracks with the opening bass riff having a more darker feel to it and the vocals from drummer Dave Douglas fit rather nicely with the more melodic-punk style, and the quintessential pirate anthem The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything is still as silly and awesome as ever. Though not a perfect record Anatomy pretty much improves on the debut's shortcomings while still having a bit mediocrity with some of the record's more not as memorable tracks, but the record's highs are high enough to give the record some credit where it's due.

Num. 5: "Two Lefts Don't Make A Right... But Three Do" (2003)

The band's follow-up to their previous release is where the band started to find their footing alongside other bands in the genre, and equally crafted one of the most essential records of the 2000's pop punk scene. The band seamlessly took the criticisms from the previous records and improved on them with some of the catchiest pop punk of the 2000's; the only problem is that though the record itself is great some of it does feel outdated compared to their later releases. Chap Stick is a great opener and the first taste of where the improvements lie, Mood Rings is a classic track about a relationship and relating your love interest's moods to that of a mood ring, In Love With The 80's (Pink Tux To The Prom) is the follow-up to the ever popular Sadie Hawkins Dance and it's instantly as memorable, College Kids is the quintessential college kids anthem, and Getting Into You is one of the best piano ballads that the band has ever crafted and the soulful and unique vocals from Matt Thiessen on this track drive it home. "Two Lefts" is a massive improvement on their previous releases and the jump in quality shines through with this release and was the starting point for bigger and better things.

Num. 4: "Five Score And Seven Years Ago" (2007)

The follow-up to the certified gold record "Mmhmm"; "Five Score And Seven Years Ago" is both a return to form to the more melodic side of the band but also a step into more of a pop direction than previous releases; though not as great as it's predecessor there is a lot of strong merits to this release in an otherwise underrated record in the band's catalog. Come Right Out And Say It is a great opener that gives a taste to a more darker in tone record, I Need You instantly hits you right in the face with abrasive guitars and a sense of urgency, Devastation And Reform is another full throttle track that hits you in full gear, Faking My Own Suicide is one of the band's strongest piano ballads in the band's discography with a sense of poetic sadness that permeates throughout the track, and Deathbed featuring Jon Foreman of Switchfoot is one of the most beautiful album closers that has ever graced the ears of listeners and is still fans favorite album closer. This record had major shoes to fill with it being the follow-up to a highly successful record and though it's not perfect there are so many great tracks on the record that deserve to be played time and time again.

Num. 3: "Forget And Not Slow Down" (2009)

"Forget And Not Slow Down" has always felt like the sleeper hit in the band's catalog; the jump to a more midwestern styled rock n' roll as oppose to the band's previous pop punk outing seemed like a huge risk but a risk that needed to be taken. This was an entirely new era for the band as this was the first release to not be released on the band's previous label Gotee Records but instead on the band's own label Mono Vs Stereo and it definitely shows. This record was the first for the band to have outside hands on the record from the likes of Tim Skipper of House Of Heroes, Brian McSweeney of Seven Day Jesus, Aaron Gillespie of Underoath and The Almost, Matt McDonald of The Classic Crime, and Adam Young of Owl City; this was also the first record to have Ethan Luck as a full member of the band and you can feel his influence on the record as a whole with what he added to the table. "Forget" is a road trip album and how one can reflect through a half-hour car ride with the windows down and the stereo turned up. Forget And Not Slow Down is a perfect opener for the record as you can feel the changes that have been made but also still feels like Relient K, I Don't Need A Soul is a full on rocker, Part Of It is a beautiful almost piano ballad styled tune but then hits you with a rocker of a track, Therapy is the more "Relient K" sounding as it feels more in line with their previous releases but still kicks so hard, Sahara is a massive moment on the record especially in the later half of the track with it's more harsher tone and the guest vocals from Tim Skipper, Aaron Gillespie, and Matt McDonald are insane, and Savannah which might one of the ultimate windows down type tracks ever put to tape. "Forget And Not Slow Down" is a fantastic record that deserves more attention that it gets.

Num. 2: "Air For Free" (2016)

Relient K's comeback record "Air For Free" is a beautiful anomaly of rocking pop-rock and indie rock collision of poetically lyrical space. "Air For Free" will be a divisive placement and especially up this high against it's predecessors but for a good reason, "Air For Free" was Relient K coming back the way that they wanted to come back and this record shows how much the band have matured and most importantly have expanded their musical styles throughout their now twenty-two year life span. The indie rock driven record feels kind of like a companion piece to both "Forget And Not Slow Down" and "Collapsible Lung" but also treading it's course into being one of the band's most experimental and most clever records that the band has crafted. Bummin' is a fantastic opening track as it's catchiness and hook reminds me so much of tracks like "Pressing On", "Chap Stick", "Don't Blink" etc. it's a fantastic opening track, Local Construction unlike previous piano ballads is a track that at first is driven with piano-rock style but once that second half hits it's a fast paced punk rock song, Air For Free is a different sounding track for the band with it's almost "electro-pop" sound with an additional acoustic guitar is different but also feels so Relient K, Empty House is a divisive yet beautiful moment that tugs on the heartstrings with it's solely based piano ballad structure but with an added flare of auto-tune on singer Matt Thiessen's vocals which in the long run benefited the track, and Runnin' is an out of control three part rocker with each part being as incredible as the next. "Air For Free" is an incredible comeback record that I feel like the band needed to make, it's a record that feels like the perfect high point to their discography and if this truly is the band's final record then what a perfect way to end it off.

Num. 1: "Mmhmm" (2004)

This is it. The band's fourth record "Mmhmm" which has since become a historic landmark in the scene as we know it, and a starting off point for so many different bands and artists since the album's release in 2004. This is the band's most definitive release and one of the truest examples of the word classic; this was the band's first record to go certified gold in the united states alone and was the first record that got the band the attention that they deserved. After three releases this record improves on everything and then some as this record is by far the best record that the band has ever released. The One I'm Waiting For is the perfect opener with it's uber catchy fast paced pop punk hook, Be My Escape is a pop punk classic for a reason as it's catchy hook, chorus, and riff have become mainstays in the pop punk scene, I So Hate Consequences which features drummer Dave Douglas on some minor lead vocals in addition to Kevin Kiehn of The Wedding on screaming vocals is an awesome track that brings a lot of aggression and angst that we haven't really felt up to this point and it fits nicely here, More Than Useless is a very hopeful track that talks about us never being truly alone when you believe in God, Let It All Out is a gorgeous track that features John Davis of Superdrag and it's a tear-jerker, Who I Am Hates Who I've Been is the track that most people know from Relient K and for very good as this might be the best faster leaning track on the album, Life After Death & Taxes (Failure 2) is a brutal tune that features David Bunton of The Showdown on screaming vocals and the dynamic between not only Matt Thiessen and Dave Douglas but also David Bunton is to be commended, and the closer When I Go Down is the perfect way to end off this record and is still the best album closer that the band has made to this day. "Mmhmm" is an iconic record for a reason and it still remains to this very day as Relient K's best and greatest work that the band has ever released.