The EP gets it's title from that vinyl track, Apathetic Way To Be. The track is intriguing, to say the least. Is it a satryical, sarcastic ode to apathy or a jab at the mainstream idea that people should strive for things that won't make them content and won't mean anything once they die? Whether it's one, the other, or an interesting mix of the two, the track offers lyrics that make you think delivered with the typical Relient K sound musically and vocally.
The three new tracks offer a range of flavors. The Truth, the EP's lead track (And the lead single in the Christian realm), is a typically upbeat track with a solid message behind it, offering the simple (and very true) thought that Sometimes the hardest thing to believe is the truth. It is another track that shows the continued growth and maturity of the group, while still giving the fans what they love in the Relient K sound. On the other hand, In Like A Lion (Always Winter) and The Thief are both slower tracks focused more on the vocals and the lyrics. The music is simple in The Thief and, though it is the shortest track on the EP (Clocking in at just 2:22), it still provides a quality listening experience. The lyrics, though also pretty short compared to the rest of the disc, once again show a very mature reflective state of these guys, offering lines like It was cowardice that made me push you away/I was so afraid, 'cause you were so much better than me. The one flaw (or, possibly, great strength) of the track is that, because it is such a short song, it leaves the listeners wanting more, which is either a really terrible or an act of true genius to end the EP in such a way. However, In Like A Lion is a bit different. The track is based on the C.S. Lewis classic novel The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, the first in the seven-book series The Chronicles Of Narnia (Yes, this is the same book that will soon be a movie in theaters nationwide...and no, this track is not included on the soundtrack. It was a track inspired solely by the book, not by the book and the fact that it would soon be a movie). And, for anyone who has read the book, the track is truly superb because it takes listeners to back to Narnia with it's lyrics and provides a great melding of book and song. Even if you have not read the book, however, the track still is a great tune that will ring especially true in the northern parts of the world with it's imagery showing the difference between the cold of ice and snow and the warmth of a heart filled with hope.
The three acoustic tracks also add a nice touch to this EP. Both the greatest strength and the greatest weakness of acoustic tracks is that so many people enjoy them. Because of this, many artists are tempted to make all of their songs into acoustic tracks at some point (Whether it be on a single, as a bonus on an LP, as part of an EP like this, or even live in concert). The problem is that many songs that are made acoustic are not fit for the acoustic realm. Simply stripping a song down musically does not make it a good acoustic track. What Relient K has done with these three tracks, however, is created a different feel to the tracks while keeping the main portions intact. Be My Escape, Which To Bury, Us Or The Hatchet and Over Thinking are all solid choices for acoustic tracks. All three choices were solid because they had the ability to be switched up a bit while not making the songs unrecognizable to the casual fan. And instead of just getting rid of the electric sound, the vocals were also changed up to fit the vibe of each track in it's acoustic form, giving listeners an oxy-moron in song form three times: Each song is the same as the original, however, it is also different.
Overall, the Apathetic EP is a great offering from Relient K. Each track provides something a little different from the other stuff on the EP. Lead singer Matt Thiessen's vocals continue to show growth and really start to shine in parts of this disc, especially on In Like A Lion (Always Winter). The mix of fun, upbeat pop-punk and softer piano rock, combined with a mini acoustic set in the middle, provide listeners with a wide range of Relient K music to listen to and enjoy.