Collapsible Lung by Relient K

Collapsible Lung came out in 2013 and is the most openly pop record Relient K has made. The band brought in outside writers and leaned into bright, glossy hooks, a clear turn from their pop punk roots. The theme is looser than usual, songs about love, restlessness, and the wish to start over. That lightness, and the small surprise of it, is what drew me in.

Why listen?

The sound is sunny, modern pop with the band's wit still intact. The production is clean and radio-shaped, full of layered vocals and crisp beats. The lyrics trade some of the old faith songs for plain stories of feeling and longing. There is less of a journey here than a string of bright moments, and the band seems happy with that. It is an easy, summery listen with a clever heart.

Favourite song: PTL

This is the song where the band's humour and hope meet, a bright nod to praising the Lord without preaching. It moves fast and grins while it does it.

I never meant to be your part-time lover
Then again I've never been a full-time man
Never though it'd hurt so bad to see you with another
Guess I'm the fool that ya, you think I am

The track keeps the tone light but lets a little gratitude slip through the gloss. It reminds me of a downhill stretch near the end of a long walk, when the legs lighten and you almost laugh at how good it feels to move. Joy does not need to be solemn to be real.

Key takeaway

Collapsible Lung is a sunny, low-stakes pop record from a band trying something new. A pleasant listen if you take it on its own bright terms.

Tracklist

• Don't Blink
• Boomerang
• Lost Boy
• If I Could Take You Home
• Can't Complain
• Gloria
• PTL
• Disaster
• When You Were My Baby
• Sweeter
• Collapsible Lung

Details

Listen on

• Apple Music
• Amazon
• Spotify

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