Five Score and Seven Years Ago by Relient K

Five Score and Seven Years Ago is Relient K's 2007 album, marking five records and seven years as a band. It balances their trademark fun with some of their most heartfelt songwriting yet. I came back to it for the way it grows up without losing its grin.

Why listen?

The sound is bright, polished pop-punk, fast and full of harmony. The production is crisp and full, giving the big choruses room to soar. The lyrics swing from playful to deeply sincere, touching grace, forgiveness, and love. There is craft here beneath the speed, real songs under the jokes. It is the work of a band hitting its stride.

Favourite song: Must Have Done Something Right

The album's sunniest song, a giddy expression of gratitude for unearned good. It is pure, bouncing joy.

If anyone can make me a better person you could
All I gotta say is I must've done something good
Came along one day and you rearranged my life
All I gotta say is I must've done something right
I must've done something right

The way the chorus skips along makes thankfulness feel like the most natural thing in the world. It reminds me of the disbelieving grin at the top of a climb, amazed at a view you did nothing to deserve. The song treats grace as a happy surprise, which is exactly what it is.

Key takeaway

Five Score and Seven Years Ago is Relient K at their most assured, fun and tender together. A high point worth revisiting.

Tracklist

• Pleading the Fifth
• Come Right Out and Say It
• I Need You
• The Best Thing
• Forgiven
• Must Have Done Something Right
• Give Until There's Nothing Left
• Devastation and Reform
• I'm Taking You with Me
• Faking My Own Suicide
• Crayons Can Melt on Us for All I Care
• Bite My Tongue
• Up and Up
• Deathbed

Details

Listen on

• Apple Music
• Amazon
• Spotify

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