Relient K - Air For Free


Relient K
Air For Free
2016
Spotify

Relient K were always the sweethearts of the Pop Punk world. Their music was bright, fun and carried their Christian message. They were never in your face about their religion, or only sang praise songs, but it would be an integral part of their music. You could take it or leave it, but it was important to them to live whatever truth they knew. This new record Air For Free is certainly not just a rehash of their old sound with the hopes of locking in to some kind of nostalgia. Instead the band pushed their boundaries and even brings in a little electropop into the mix. The band itself has also seen some changes with only two of the founding members remaining. Air For Free like a lot of their music feels so hopefully, like their is always a light at the end of the tunnel if you just look for it. "God" is perhaps the most overtly Christian song, obviously by the title, but it also has a very nice sound that gets you humming along even if you aren't into the spirit of the song. Where there used to be guitar distortion and a driving bass the bands sound now is much more subtle and even a bit subdued. There aren't any songs that will get you flinging your arms in a mosh pit anymore, but maybe that is for the best.

Air For Free does have a problem in that it is very one note. Positive lyrics, splashy piano rinse and repeat is how almost the entire album plays out. There is litereally zero edge or stakes on this record, which for a kid might be nice, but this is not Kidz Bop 79. "Sleepin'" is so clawingly sweet that it is almost painful to listen to. This particular song is the private joke you have with your significant other but it is not one you tell in public, and for good reason, it's probably embarrassing. The Relient K evangelists (pun intended) however think these guys can do no wrong and therefore their place in the scene is firmly in place. There are a few times where the album drags but for the most part for being 16 tracks long it does move at a pretty good clip. When Relient K slow things down and write more of a sad song like on "Empty House" it just does not feel like their words. Air For Free is in no way a bad record, but it just lacks the depth to be appreciated by the indie scene and does not have the pop appeal to breakthrough into the mainstream. It exists on it's own little Island, much like Relient K have throughout their career. Certainly way above a lot of the music that comes out of the "Christian" scene but not quite good enough to really connect.

6.2 out of 10

Comments

Popular Posts