My love for pop punk isn’t a well-kept secret (it’s basically the genre that shaped my musical tastes in middle school as I’ve described in great detail over the past two years) and Relient K is one of those bands that have always held a special place in my heart. Their 2004 magnum opus Mmhmm is one of the more unique albums in the genre, showcasing a real knack for clever songwriting, razor sharp wit, and a musical adeptness that not many bands in the genre were capable of. Their music has aged incredibly well for those reasons, giving them a staying power that sounds just as relevant today as it did when I was buying Costco-sized buckets of Clearasil to clear up my pre-teen acne.
Let It Snow Baby…Let It Reindeer is their holiday record. Emerging from the Christian rock scene of the early 2000s, Relient K made a name for themselves by blending heartfelt lyrics with the punchy, melodic sensibilities of pop punk, and by the time they dropped this Christmas album in 2007 they had cemented their reputation as one of the most inventive acts in their genre. With their holiday effort, Relient K approached Christmas classics with the same unbridled energy and razor-sharp hooks that defined their original material, infusing new life into songs like “Sleigh Ride” and “12 Days of Christmas.”
What sets Let It Snow Baby…Let It Reindeer apart is its balance of irreverence and reverence— there’s a clear love for the season’s musical staples (a testament to their Christian background) that pairs perfectly with their energetic edge. And most importantly, it’s their introduction of some original material like the heart-tugging “Merry Christmas, Here’s to Many More” and the whimsical “I Hate Christmas Parties”. It’s easy for bands to toss in a few originals to a holiday album with a wink and a nod, but Relient K’s additions are delivered with a deeply meaningful seriousness that properly reflects their relationship with Jesus. It’s this ability to seamlessly blend their faith, pop-punk energy, and clear appreciation for the source material that makes this album not only a standout in their catalog but also a beloved entry into the world of holiday music.
Standout Songs: “Sleigh Ride”, “Merry Christmas, Here’s to Many More”, “I Celebrate The Day”, “12 Days of Christmas”, “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”, “I Hate Christmas Parties”
