Daily Staff Writer

Album: “Five Score and Seven Years Ago”

Artist: Relient K

Label: Capitol

Release Date: March 6

As its name reveals, “Five Score and Seven Years Ago” is Relient K’s fifth full-length in seven years. Between then and now, these Christian pop-rockers have exhibited more growth than most bands ever dream of. This album is sonically formulaic along the lines of their last album, but their formula obviously works very well: It has separated them from the hoi polloi and made them possibly the most influential Christian band in the secular realm. The album’s typical dance-inducing rock beats and comical lyricism has been crossbred with twangy lap guitar and a surplus of spot-on harmonies, but in a very subtle way. “Five Score” exhibits serious subject matter in a more blunt way than usual, touching on depression, teenage politics and religious themes with in-your-face tactics repressed on earlier releases. Regardless, the band still maintains its sense of humor. Lengthily titled for satirical purposes, “Crayons Can Melt On Us For All I Care” is a 12-second track with the lyrics, “I just wasted 10 seconds of your life.” The epic 11-minute closing track “Deathbed” is sung from the perspective of a cancer patient and features a cameo from Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman. All in all, “Five Score” is a solid – albeit expected – Relient K album.

By Ann Grey

Daily Staff Writer

Album: “New Magnetic Wonder”

Artist: The Apples in Stereo

Released: Feb. 6

Label: Yep Roc

You know those albums that just sound like summer? This is one of them. After a five-year album hiatus, The Apples in Stereo have come back with a bang, releasing “New Magnetic Wonder,” a CD with a whopping 24 tracks. It is a musical haul, but a good one. If you are thinking some of the songs would start sounding similar after that many tracks, you are mistaken. “New Magnetic Wonder” does not lack creativity one bit. No track sounds alike, keeping the listener guessing from start to end. Of these 24 tracks, some are full songs, and others are short and sweet musical interludes – some classical sounding – that help to move the music along seamlessly.

After listening to The Apples in Stereo, their name seems to perfectly match the vibe of the band. They are playful and fun, eccentric in sound and feel, and to my surprise, sound almost like a pop band of the ’60s. Although “New Magnetic Wonder” has an enjoyable pop appeal, it is also counterbalanced with the indie flare of peculiarity, so as to not sound too much like a top-20 hit Carson Daly might be familiar with.

By Rusty Anderson

Daily Staff Writer

Artist: Jason Mraz

Album: “Selections for Friends”

Released: Feb. 13, 2007

Label: Atlantic

Available: iTunes

In the truest sense of the word, Jason Mraz is an all-around entertainer. Beloved for his amazing skills, both on the guitar and vocals, Mraz has managed to bring life back to all-encompassing entertainers, and now live albums as well. With all of the digital production available at the push of a button, many performers find themselves incapable of replicating their studio perfection in a live performance, which has disheartened many listeners. This is certainly not the case with Mraz, as his number of live albums continues to grow – now equaling his number of full-length studio albums. His latest live endeavor, “Selections for Friends,” brings performances in two different cities, Chicago and Saratoga, Calif., together in one phenomenal album. Overflowing with the epic charm of Mraz’s crisp vocals, flawless guitar, witty humor and interaction with his audience, this album never ceases to keep your attention. The album grabs you immediately with the standout track of them all. The first track is an astonishing 34 minutes of a seamless medley of his 2001 release “The E Minor EP In F (On Love, In Sadness),” and followed by more than an hour of additional hits, such as two different versions of “Did You Get My Message,” “Sleeping to Dream” and “Life is Wonderful.” It is only available on iTunes or at Jasonmraz.com.