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Air for Free

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Air for Free
Studio album by
Relient K
ReleasedJuly 22, 2016
Genre
Length59:16
LabelMono vs Stereo
ProducerMark Lee Townsend
Relient K chronology
Collapsible Lung
(2013) 		Air for Free
(2016)
Singles from Air for Free
  1. "Bummin'"
    Released: April 13, 2016

Air for Free is the eighth studio album by Relient K, released on July 22, 2016, through Mono vs Stereo. The album's lead single, "Bummin'", was released on April 13, 2016. It is the first album since Five Score and Seven Years Ago (2007) to feature drummer Dave Douglas, though he is not credited as an official member. It also features the return of producer Mark Lee Townsend following his absence on Collapsible Lung (2013).

Background

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In November 2015, Matt Thiessen confirmed that a new record had been completed, with a planned release for 2016.[3] They worked with Mark Lee Townsend again, who produced the album.[4] Townsend also provided additional guitars, vocals and bass.[5] Dave Douglas also returned to the band to play drums on the record,[6] though was never credited as an official member.[5] Douglas played drums on half the record, as the other half was done by Tom Breyfogle, who also played bass for the band live.[6]

The album is described as their "most eclectic" record they've ever released, which Thiessen said was not done on purpose. He stated, "We spent a long time working on the record, so I guess a lot of different songs came out. To that end, I felt like they all grouped together to go on this thing. That's cool that you think they all work together like that."[6] Thiessen said at the beginning of working on album, they tried to create a "guitar heavy, up-tempo rock record," however, feeling like it wasn't right, they abandoned the idea. He then played the songs he had for the album on piano and showed guitarist Matt Hoopes and proceeded from there.[6] The album's title was thought of by Thiessen, who was trying to rhyme words from the song "Slide" by Goo Goo Dolls.[6]

Release and promotion

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Pre-orders for Air for Free began on April 13, 2016.[7] That same day, the album's lead single "Bummin'" was released.[8] The album art was also revealed, depicting Thiessen and Hoopes overlooking a sunny field.[9] On June 21, the group streamed the song "Mrs. Hippopotamuses" from the album, via YouTube.[10] A week before its official release, the album was streamed in its entirety on Pandora Radio.[11] On September 1, the group released a music video for "Mountaintop".[12]

In support of the album, Relient K played an album-release show in their home state of Ohio on July 23, 2016, with Cardboard Kids opening,[13] and later embarked on the Looking for America Tour with Switchfoot. The tour ran from September 16, beginning in Denver, Colorado, through November 26, concluding in San Francisco, California.[14] The group embarked on a second tour with Switchfoot, the Still Looking For America 2our covering Western U.S. and Canada, beginning on January 21, 2017.[15]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
CCM Magazine[16]
CM Addict[2]
Jesus Freak Hideout[1]
[17]
Jesus Wired94%[18]

The album was met with critical acclaim. Writing for Jesus Freak Hideout, Michael Weaver states, "Air for Free could be described as what Collapsible Lung should've been";[1] in a similar vein, Cortney Warner declares that the album "proves the band is far from 'has been' status, and continues to create fresh, thoughtful music that anyone can enjoy."[17] In his review for CM Addict, Michael Tackett says, "Air for Free is lyrically and musically a welcome return to form for Relient K."[2] Writing for AllMusic, Neil Z. Yeung called the album a "lush and joyful affair" featuring a "sunny, creative blend of indie rock and contemporary pop."[19] Matt Collar of CCM Magazine said, "Matt Thiessen and company have built a passionate fan base on their ability to combine the vibrant and vulnerable into one cohesive package. Air For Free takes this platform and expands it musically and thematically."[16] Jason Tate of Chorus.fm wrote, "This feels like it moves them forward musically, they tried things, they went for it... and even when I don't think it works I am impressed. The production is on par with Forget and Not Slow Down, a little muddle a few places, but not distracting, and in other places really great – the instruments shine and glean and it's full of intentionality and purpose."[20] Joshua Olson of Indie Vision Music remarked, "If you put Relient K's music from 2000-2009 in a time capsule, let it age, and opened it up in 2016 the result would be Air For Free. Despite the varied nature of the songs, they all seem to fit into one cohesive unit."[21]

Commercial performance

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Air for Free debuted at its peak of No. 44 on the Billboard 200 and also No. 1 album on the Top Christian Albums Chart, selling 9,000 copies in its opening week.[22]

Track listing

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Digital and CD edition[23]
No.TitleLength
0."Untitled" (piano version of "Marigold"; only on CD release of album, hidden in pregap)1:08
1."Bummin'"3:07
2."Local Construction"3:18
3."Mrs. Hippopotamuses'"2:37
4."Cat"2:44
5."Man"4:20
6."Air for Free"3:03
7."God"4:19
8."Elephant Parade"3:50
9."Mountaintop"3:38
10."Sleepin'"3:49
11."Empty House"3:22
12."Flower"4:09
13."Marigold"3:47
14."Runnin'"5:36
15."Prodigal"2:24
16."Heartache"5:13
Total length:59:16
Vinyl edition[24]
Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Local Construction"3:18
2."Bummin'"3:07
3."Marigold"3:47
4."Runnin'"5:36
Total length:15:48
Side B
No.TitleLength
5."Mrs. Hippopotamuses'"2:37
6."Cat"2:44
7."Elephant Parade"3:50
8."Man"4:20
Total length:13:31
Side C
No.TitleLength
9."Air for Free"3:03
10."God"4:19
11."Prodigal"2:24
12."Empty House"3:22
Total length:13:08
Side D
No.TitleLength
13."Mountaintop"3:38
14."Sleepin'"3:49
15."Flower"4:09
16."Heartache"5:13
Total length:16:49

Personnel

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Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[5]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Air for Free
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[25] 72
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ)[26] 6
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[27] 20
US Billboard 200[28] 44
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[29] 1
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[30] 3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[31] 6
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[32] 5

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label Ref(s).
United States July 22, 2016
Mono vs Stereo [33][24]
United States August 20, 2016 CD [5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Weaver, Michael (July 19, 2016). "Relient K, Air for Free Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Tackett, Michael (June 3, 2016). "Relient K Air for Free (Review)". CM Addict. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  3. ^ Kane, Dan (November 2015). "In depth with Relient K's Matt Thiessen". Canton Rep. Gatehouse Media, Inc. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2016. We have a new record finished and poised for a 2016 release.
  4. ^ "Rock team Relient K return with 'Air For Free' album and Switchfoot tour". Cross Rhythms. July 19, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d Air For Free (Media notes). Relient K. Mono vs Stereo. 2016.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ a b c d e Jonathan Bautts (July 26, 2016). "Interview: Matthew Thiessen and Matt Hoopes of Relient K". Chorus.fm. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  7. ^ Jason Tate (April 13, 2016). "Relient K's 'Air For Free' Shows Up on iTunes for Pre-order". Chorus.fm. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  8. ^ Jason Tate (April 14, 2016). "Relient K - 'Bummin'". Chorus.fm. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  9. ^ "Relient K Announces Details and Reveals Cover of 'Air For Free'". New Release Today. April 15, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  10. ^ Jason Tate (June 21, 2016). "Relient K - Mrs. Hippopotamuses". Chorus.fm. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  11. ^ "RELIENT K'S UPCOMING ALBUM FEATURED ON PANDORA PREMIER THIS WEEK". JesusFreakHideout.com. July 15, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  12. ^ Jason Tate (September 1, 2016). "Relient K - 'Mountaintop' Video". Chorus.fm. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  13. ^ "Relient K 'Air for Free' Album Release Show/Cardboard Kids". Clevescene.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  14. ^ Jason Tate (May 16, 2016). "Relient K and Switchfoot Announce Tour". Chorus.fm. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  15. ^ "Switchfoot and Relient K Announce Second Leg of Looking for America Tour". New Release Today. November 16, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  16. ^ a b Conner, Matt (July 21, 2016). "Relient K – Air for Free album review". CCM Magazine. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  17. ^ a b Warner, Cortney (July 21, 2016). "Relient K, Air for Free Second Staff Opinion Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  18. ^ Praise, Billy (October 11, 2016). "Review: Relient K Gifts Us With 'Air For Free' With New Record". Jesus Wired. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  19. ^ Neil Z. Yeung. "Air for Free - Relient K - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  20. ^ Jason Tate (July 13, 2016). "Relient K - Air for Free Review". Chorus.fm. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  21. ^ Joshua Olson (November 8, 2016). "Album Review: Relient K - Air For Free". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  22. ^ "Relient K Scores Its Fifth No. 1 on Top Christian Albums Chart With 'Air For Free'". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  23. ^ "Air for Free by Relient K on iTunes". iTunes. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  24. ^ a b "Relient K - Air for Free 2LP". SMLXL Vinyl. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  25. ^ "CHART WATCH #379". auspOp. July 30, 2016. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  26. ^ "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 1, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  27. ^ "Official Charts: Relient K - Artists". Official Charts Company. August 4, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  28. ^ "Relient K Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  29. ^ "Relient K Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  30. ^ "Relient K Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  31. ^ "Relient K Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  32. ^ "Relient K Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  33. ^ Jason Tate (April 13, 2016). "Relient K's 'Air for Free' Up for Vinyl Pre-Order". Chorus.fm. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
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