Barnes & Noble
With song titles like "Chap Stick...," "Mood Rings," and "In Love
with the '80s," you can bet that Relient K are not your average
Christian rockers. Not to disappoint, the Canton, Ohiobased
foursome's snappy third release showcases the punk- and ska-inspired
rock and witty lyrics that have long distinguished them from
the rest of the pack. On Two Lefts the band address
everything from relationships to stereotypes to growing up in a small
town. Most of the songs are fired off in a dizzying frenzy of
hammering guitars and slamming drums, and to be fair, this gets repetitive after a while. The few tempo changes (as on the lovely ballad
"Getting into You") are all the more welcome. Still,
there's an overall sense of fun and adventure on Two Lefts
that most Christian albums lack these days, and that alone makes this
effort a standout.
Lisa Zhito
All Music Guide
Relient K is a 'can't miss' proposition in the secular market. On their third disc, Two Left's Don't Make a Right. . .But Three Do, the band is very strong, singing relevant lyrics to the X generation and beyond with the fervor of a bull horn. This release may be the crossover vehicle that launches the band into the stratosphere. Matthew Thiessen's snotty vocals are at their height, with bashing guitars making a noise, too. "Chap Stick, Chapped Lips, and Things Like Chemistry," kicks off the opus with an alternative musical barrage. On a large portion of the disc, guitars are big all over. It's hard to say the band has reached a maturity when lyrical topics include Boy Meets World, Tears for Fears, and cell phones, but on the flip side, cuts like "Falling Out" has "hit single" written all over it, with its driving rhythm and musical interludes that give way to intelligent, well-placed lyrics. "Forward Motion" is punk passion, where most bands would blow through this guitar-charged cut, Relient K pulls back the throttle, as a well-delivered piano brings the song to an eloquent close."Getting Into You" is a tune that will have radio legs. The tune is delivered with an acoustic guitar, and the humbleness and reverence that Thiessen has for his Creator is evident. Two Left's Don't Make a Right. . .But Three Do is a disc that establishes Relient K as the rulers of the punk kingdom. The tunes, the energy, and the guitars will leave your toes tapping for many spins. ~ Steven Douglas Losey, All Music Guide