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Mood rings, khaki pants, Chap Stick, pink tuxes, and coffee ground into the ground are only a few of the many different things mentioned in the songs of rock band Relient K. Their fourth CD, and first Christmas CD Two Lefts Don’t Make a Right…But Three Do Christmas Edition, which premiered last year, is a tremendous CD with traditional Christmas carols—and new songs—but all with Relient K’s own special spin on each one. This ten-track CD contains seven well-known Christmas songs/carols and three of Relient K’s originals. Since the release of their first self-titled album in August of 2000 Relient K has had tremendous success. Their third album Two Lefts Don’t Make a Right…But Three Do debuted as #38 on the top 200 album list. Just a few weeks ago Relient K released their fifth full album titled Mmhmm.

My Rating: 5/5

 

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Comments on a few tracks:

 

Angels We Have Heard on High – This is one of the many traditional Christmas carols that Relient K took and made their own. The song starts off with the traditional theme in a very rock version. It immediately goes into the song but at a much faster pace than traditionally sung.

 

12 Days of Christmas – This has got to be one of my personal favorites on this CD. Relient K goes through the first five days of Christmas as any other person would, but immediately after add their own part to the song which goes, “Well what’s a partridge? And what’s a pear tree? Well I don’t know so please don’t ask me, but I can bet those are terrible gifts to get.” They also place this phrase at the end of the ninth day. For a few of the later verses they change them a bit and make them more fun.

 

I Celebrate the Day – One of the two original songs done by Relient K, this is another rather slow song. Written by Matthew Thiessen, the group’s lead singer and guitarist, this song is speaking directly to Jesus Christ. The chorus goes “And the first time, that You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior? And the first breath that left Your lips, did You know that it would change this world forever?” Later the bridge goes “And I will celebrate the day, that You were born to die, so I could one day pray for You to save my life, pray for You to save my life, pray for You to save my life.”

 

Santa Claus is Thumbing to Town – No…that’s not a typo, it’s a slightly different version of the original song Santa Claus is Coming to Town. The beginning of the song goes, “'Twas the night before Christmas, and up at the North Pole, everybody's going crazy; everything's out of control. The toy shop is on fire, the toys melting on the shelves, and you can hear Mrs. Claus scream, ‘I warned you never trust those elves!’” The song continues on to tell a rather funny story about Santa Claus and how he tried to get around the world in one night, but couldn’t because his sleigh was in the shop. The reason for the word “thumbing” in the title is because most of song is about how Santa Claus hitchhikes and tries to get a ride to take him around the world, but no one will stop for him. All in all it’s a rather humorous song.

 

I Hate Christmas Parties – This song is actually not performed by Relient K, but by Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes. The song is rather sad, and I must admit I was not fully able to understand what it is talking about, but the chorus goes, “I look under the tree, but there's nothing to see, ‘cause it's a broken heart that you're giving me. I can't figure you out, is this what Christmas is all about? ‘Cause it's a broken heart that you're giving me.”

Auld Lang Syne – Relient K put this song last for a specific reason, but did not really change it from the original. Once they finish singing the song a message from the band members comes on and tells what making this CD meant to them and such. In my opinion, it’s a great way to end a Christmas CD.

 

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