Full Review: Relient K – Forget And Not Slow Down
The cover art is very telling of this record. An interesting scene, an abandon trailer in a field, hardly worth a photograph let alone a painting. Relient K has, in the past, taken certain subjects and situations head on crafting absolutely witty ways of looking through the eye glass, however that is the biggest difference with ‘Forget And Not Slow Down’ compared to past records. This album, through a similar but tweaked style, is just more ambiguous.
The band’s last album, ‘Five Score And Seven Years Ago’, was a climax for trying too hard, the culmination of 5 records over 7 years leads to this new era of letting the songs flow out without the sense of over trying. “Candlelight” showcases this well by dabbling in both flattering as well as odd compliments but then lacking the familiar tangents Matt Thiessen often followed. A curious thing about the album is the intros/outros and reprises not being included as part of the actual songs and now being their own short tracks, which isn’t an issue if you listen straight through, but can be distracting as you skip around.
The band is strongest in the beginning and the middle sections starting with the opening title track. Both musically intriguing and lyrically stimulating, “Forget And Not Slow Down” is only challenged as the album’s best by the slower, slicker, and jazzier track, “Over It” in which the story of being done with a situation overcomes any need to fix it. “Part Of It”, “I Don’t Need A Soul” and “If You Believe Me” round out the rest of the tracks finding the most favor. On the opposite side, “Therapy” only rehashes past songs with familiar dynamics of a distant Relient K from the MMHMM days. This song will probably, for that reason, be a fan favorite.
Long time fans and new comers both have things to celebrate, each group with things to grip about as well. The result of Relient K growing a little does cause a few pains, but in the end I think the band is better for it. ‘Forget And Not Slow Down’ is not the finish line, but merely a mile marker marked with a feeling of honesty and doing something real.
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October 2nd, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I agree. The album is good, but overall very forgettable.
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Definitely not. It’s right up there with MMHMM if not better. It will be my AOTY unless Switchfoot or Seabird’s new albums do something spectacular.
October 5th, 2009 at 11:16 am
I disagree with a majority of this review. This album is Relient K coming back to a true form. Yes, a little reminiscent of “MMHMM,” but that’s a great thing. This album takes what worked with that album (and what didn’t work with “Five Score…”) and only continues to perfect that formula, and nearly surpasses “MMHMM”. The lyrics are terrific, especially considering the subject matter–the wit is there, but there is definitely a shadow of melancholy, and I think it suits the band well with this effort. I was afraid of what they’d come out with after being very disappointed with “Five Score…” but I’m very happy to say that I really enjoy this album.
October 5th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Also, “Sahara” is pretty epic.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:24 am
its a solid album for sure.
October 27th, 2009 at 8:54 am
I would largely agree. There’s talk that Five Score was disappointing, and this is one point that I would personally oppose. Five Score was probably my favorite RK album, and to really appreciate this album (as well as Five Score and the proceeding EP, The Bird and the Bee Sides) is to recognize the musical progression of the band. I feel like this is the perfect culmination of MMHMM, Five Score, and TBATBS: a mature, clean, very raw album. The only thing I miss from this album is the big, produced, epicness that was exhibited in Five Score as well as MMHMM. They chose to go the more raw route in producing style, which is still something that I can respect.
This album makes the listener reach for it, if that makes any sense; it makes you reach for the intentions and outcomes that may not have been expected, but of which I am fully confident are there, simply by knowing and trusting the artistry of the band. You have to think, if this band made what I liked so much on the previous albums and chose to do this differently and thought it was better, what is it exactly, and how can I as a listener come to the same conclusion? All in all, this record is definitely not boring, and certainly makes me feel all the more accomplished for interpreting and stretching myself as a listener. I still haven’t come to a full conclusion on the specific aspects of this album, but I think that is another beauty of Forget And Not Slow Down.
Favorite tracks are If You Believe Me, Therapy, Forget and Not Slow Down, and Oasis/Savannah/Baby
March 8th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
This is a great album! Almost as good as MMHMM. Granted Five Score wasn’t their best but I still love it. Forget and Not Slow Down is very raw, mature, honest, and witty. I love it. Btw I love Candleligh, it’s one of my fave songs on the album. and you didn’t write anything about This is the End(If You Want It)! That’s practically the best song on the album!
July 10th, 2010 at 12:52 am
Progression is always good for a band, but this and Five Score feel like the band has progressed in the wrong direction. Instead of developing a strong punk/alt rock feel, they're going down the already overused Indie Rock path..I miss the Two Lefts Relient K