Relient K Releases New Album of Cover Songs - 'K Is For Karaoke'

By Justin Sarachik, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Today marks the release date for Christian punk/alternative rock Relient K's newest release K Is for Karaoke.

The CD is a not an album of new material but instead an album of cover songs. Also, today's release is the complete album – the first half of the album was released as an EP in June.

K Is for Karaoke has an eclectic mix of songs throughout. It features a few hits from the 80s, a bunch from the 90s, and two or three from the last decade.

Some of the more notable covers on the album are "Baby" by teen idol Justin Bieber, "Girls Just Want to Have fun" by Cyndi Lauper, "You're the Inspiration" by Chicago, and "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley.

Relient K is following in the footsteps of fellow Christian pop punk rockers MxPx in releasing an album of covers. MxPx, has released two cover albums titled On the Cover (1995) and On the Cover II (2009).

Relient K formed in Canton, Ohio, in 1998 with high school friends Matt Thiessen, Brian Pittman, and Matt Hoopes and have not slowed down since.

Naming the band Relient K after Hoopes' Reliant K car, they were soon discovered by Christian music superstar Toby Mac who signed them to his label, Gotee Records in 2000.

Shortly after, they released their self-titled debut which contained many quirky songs and pop culture references. This trend of playful punk-pop songs continued through their next two releases but was put on halt with 2004's Mmhmm.

Mmhmm gained the band both success in the Christian market, and in the secular music world. The album moved slightly away from fun loving punk and more into darker more exposed territories of music incorporating piano and grittier guitars, as well as some screaming.

The album spawned two top 40 Hits and made MTV's top 10 twice with songs "Be My Escape" and "Who I am Hates Who I've Been."

Aside from the cover album, Relient K's last album Forget and Not Slow Down was released in 2009.

According to a few YouTube videos featuring Relient K, they plan to release a new album in spring 2012.

Relient K has had one Grammy nomination in 2003 for "Best Rock Gospel Album" and two GMA Dove Awards.

They have appeared as high as No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and have sold close to 3 million records.