Mmhmm [Enhanced]

Relient K | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 2, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B000641ZOK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (253 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,557 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The One I'm Waiting For

2. Be My Escape

3. High of '75

4. I So Hate Consequences

5. The Only Thing Worse Than Beating a Dead Horse Is Betting On One

6. My Girl's Ex Boyfriend

7. More Than Useless

8. Which to Bury; Us Or The Hatchet

9. Let it all Out

10. Who I Am Hates Who I've Been

11. Maintain Consciousness

12. This Week the Trend

13. Life After Death and Taxes (Failure II)

14. When I Go Down

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Following the lead of their secular counterparts like Blink 182 and Good Charlotte, Christian pop-punk group Relient K changes tact for its fourth studio album. Cue pianos and strings and lyrics that largely leave behind adolescent concerns in search of greater meaning on epic songs like "Be My Escape" and "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been." But the heavy themes and dark clouds on the album cover don't spell the death of the band's goofy side--for a quick dose of devolution check "The Only Worst Thing Than Beating A Dead Horse Is Betting On One" and "My Girlfriend's Ex-Boyfriend," songs that would make even a sadsack like Morrissey crack a smile. --Aidin Vaziri

Product Description

Japanese pressing with the bonus track 'Apathetic'. Virgin. 2005. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine CD as the band bridges secular and Christian music, June 14, 2005

By 

Gary M. Greenbaum (Fairfax, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mmhmm (Audio CD)

Relient K has gained attention and new fans recently while opening the "Noise To The World" tour for Simple Plan and Good Charlotte. This CD contains about half of the songs they played on the tour, but not older ones like "Sadie Hawkins Dance" and "Chapstick, Chapped Lips, and Things Like Chemistry."

Relient K puts together a CD full of upbeat, light pop-punk. To the casual listener, little more seems meant than songs about relationships (like "High of 75"), or lack of fulfillment ("Be My Escape", "I So Hate Consequences")

The Christian point of view quickly becomes clear. The "you" songs such as "Be My Escape" are addressed to could, if you want it to, be some girl the singer is trying to get to take him from an unfulfilling life, but it could be Jesus as well "You've told me the way, and now I'm trying to get there" "But I can't ask you to give what you already gave". "High of 75" plays on the pun between "sun" and "son", and the clouds battling for control of the sky could be good and evil.

Still, Relient K has cleverly done songs that set forth their point of view, but in a manner that all can appreciate, whatever their religious beliefs. They've joined the mainstream, but without selling out their religious beliefs.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lyrically brilliant, musically great too!, July 27, 2006

By 

Trevor R. Raichura (Kobe, Hyogo, Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mmhmm (Audio CD)

I have to admit, it took me awhile to actually enjoy Relient K. I used to think their music was very generic and their lyrics were cheesy. But this album changed everything for me. Matt Thiessen is such a clever lyricist, using enough word plays to delight the wordsmith in me, but also making me think more deeply about my relationship with God and others.

The band sticks to their standard pop-punk riffs on this album, though I believe they use smoother speed and instrumental transitions on this album. Example: Be My Escape starts with screaming guitars and a fast beat, softens down to keyboards, vocals and light drumming during the verses, back up to rocking during the bridge and chorus, and slows right down for a touching finish. There are several other songs that vary in a like manner.

Lyrically, I really enjoyed Be My Escape (but the beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair), Which to Bury, Us or the Hatchet (I move you, but you just wouldn't budge, I tried to hold your hand but you'd rather hold your grudge), When I Go Down (When I go down, I'll lift my eyes to You, but I won't look too far, 'Cause You'll be there with open arms, to lift me up again...). What a beautiful way to end the album!

Musically, many songs stand out - High of 75 is probably the most original song, starting with acoustic guitar, and including a drum loop in the chorus. Other highlights include Who I am Hates Who I've Been, and Life After Death & Taxes, which combines great vocals with some cool screaming!

Relient K has made a fan out of me, and if you buy this album, it will do the same for you!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars World Enough In Time, November 2, 2004

By 

Adam C. Osborn "ollieoz17" (New Orleans, LA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mmhmm (Audio CD)

Relient K's fourth album, mmhmm, is simply excellent. On their first two albums, they were catchy, skillful, humorous, and religious. Their third album was less religiously emphasized, but still very catchy and rather entertaining. This album shows the maturity that one professional reviewer said theit third album still lacked, and it also shows that Relient K still intends to encourage belief with their music, but (still) is not doing so at the expense of their music or to the exclusion of all else. The songs on mmhmm are generally more serious and thoughtful, but their sincerity has not changed on their newest album. There is also evidence of their trademark sense of humor in songs like "My Girl's Ex-Boyfriend" and "The Only Thing Worse Than Beating A Dead Horse Is Getting On One" as well as a few others. As for the music itself, it remains energetic and catchy, and is even more skillful than ever. My personal favorites on this CD (so far, in no particular order) are "High Of 75", "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been", "The One I'm Waiting For" and "Be My Escape" but there is no song on this album which I dislike. This is an excellent investment for anyone who likes Relient K, pop-punk, or just rock music in general.