The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek

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The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek (often shortened to Anatomy) is the second full-length album released by Christian rock band Relient K. It was released on August 28, 2001, and peaked at No. 158 on the Billboard 200. On June 26, 2006, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA for sales in excess of 500,000 units in the United States. The cover of the original release is similar to that of the 1999 Ramones release Hey Ho! Let's Go: The Anthology.

Background and release

The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek was produced and recorded by Mark Lee Townsend. The album was mixed by J.R. McNeely at the Castle in Nashville, while Ted Jensen mastered the album at Sterling Sound in New York City.<ref name="liner notes"/> It was the first album they recorded with drummer Dave Douglas, who replaced Stephen Cushman, after he left the band following the release of Relient K.<ref name="Special K">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On the same day the group released the album, they released The Creepy EP, featuring two songs from the album and four exclusive tracks.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Less is More" was released as the album's lead single in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> It was followed up by the album's second single "Pressing On" released that same year.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The group released the deluxe single "For The Moments I Feel Faint / Those Words Are Not Enough" in 2002.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Gotee Records released a "Gold Edition" of the album on October 31, 2006, along with the release of a "Gold Edition" of Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do on the same day. The Gold Edition of this album has remixed and remastered in a style similar to Mmhmm (the album was remixed by the same people who mixed Mmhmm) and it has a music video for the song "Pressing On".<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

The group toured in support of the album, playing nearly 200 shows in North America towards the end of 2001.<ref name="AllMusic Bio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Composition and lyrics

The album continues the band's liberal use of pop culture references as metaphors for Biblical principles (such as the song "I'm Lion-O," which is about the popular TV series Thundercats).<ref name="Powell_Fe">Template:Cite book</ref> Song themes range from pop culture to Christian themes—growth in faith ("Pressing On"), backsliding ("What Have You Been Doing Lately?"), worship ("Those Words Are Not Enough," "For the Moments I Feel Faint," and "Less Is More")<ref name="Powell_Fe"/>—and social themes—such as racism and persecution ("Failure to Excommunicate"), judgementalism ("Down in Flames")—to making excuses or blaming others for one's own faults ("Maybe It's Maybeline").<ref name="Powell_Fe"/> There is also a song about one's experiences in high school ("Sadie Hawkins Dance").

The last line of "Pressing On" is from The Mary Tyler Moore Show theme.<ref name="Powell_Fe"/> "Maybe It's Maybeline" (deliberately misspelled, much like the band's name) refers to the popular Maybelline line of beauty products and its tag line.<ref name="Powell_Fe"/>

The group also showcases maturity and growth in their songwriting on the album.<ref name="JFH Review"/> The album's sound is described as "tighter" and punk rock leaning.<ref name="CR Review"/>

Critical reception

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The album was met with positive reviews from music critics. Ashleight Kittle of AllMusic stated, "the pop culture references in tracks including 'Sadie Hawkins Dance' and 'Maybe Its Maybeline' are quickly identifiable and immediately grasp the listener's attention. Definite highlights include the acoustic 'For the Moments I Feel Faint' and 'The Rest Is up to You'."<ref name="AllMusic Review"/> Andy Long of Cross Rhythms felt that the album was a "major improvement" compared to their previous debut self-titled studio album and remarked, "the band have honed their sound into a tighter and meaner package and the production has a more punk rock edge [...] 'Those Words Are Not Enough' is certainly one of the album's musical high points."<ref name="CR Review"/>

John DiBiase of Jesus Freak Hideout called the album, "Not perfect, while still feeling just a little bit too youthful for some of the older crowd, but a leap above their debut, Relient K has created a sophomore album that is worth checking out by RK fans and non alike."<ref name="JFH Review"/> Pär Winberg of Melodic praised the production on the album and said, "Add a superb lead vocalist in Matt Thiesen and great harmony vocals and you have an album to love."<ref name="Melodic Review"/>

The album has sold 300,000 copies in the United States.<ref name="AllMusic Bio"/>