As far as cover records are concerned, most fly under the radar — and rightfully so. It is a rare feat to craft a superior cover of a classic jam. Sure, there are some covers that are arguably finer than the original (The Ataris’s cover of Dan Henley’s “The Boys Of Summer” and Thrice’s cover of Frodus’s “The Earth Isn’t Humming” quickly come to mind), but for the most part the original trumps the competition. So it was with light anticipation that Christian rockers Relient K released their new covers-EP, Is For Karaoke EP. Honoring such music visionaries as Weezer and Justin Bieber— the Biebs to some— it is no wonder that Is For Karaoke is so stupendous.

Relient K kicks off Is For Karaoke with an innocent cover of Cyndi Lauper’s iconic 1983 hit “Girls Just Want To Have Fun.” Relient K vocalist Matt Thiessen’s performance falls somewhere between cute, juvenile choir recital-fare and awkward, drunken karaoke-bar drive, which does the track perfect justice. However, Lauper-purist need not fret! Theissen sings the lyrics just as writer Robert Hazard penned them nearly thirty years ago.

A solid cover of Tom Petty’s 1980 classic, “Here Comes My Girl,” follows. Theissen particularly stands out, as he does the Rock N Roll Hall Of Famer integrity without sounding like a clone. Lead guitarist Matt Hoopes shines as well. Hoopes is certainly no Mike Campbell, but the Relient K axman does hold his own. Nevertheless, this cover lacks the energy of the original. As well, the group performs a pleasant “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” cover, originally performed by New Wave legends Tears For Fears.

Where Relient K truly hit their stride is when they cover contemporary pop tracks. The Canton, Ohio quintet’s cover of Justin Bieber’s hit “Baby” is near perfection (and certainly a humorous addition to the group’s already quirky catalog of music). The Biebs would certainly be proud. The group’s cover of eccentric funk-masters Gnarls Barkley’s 2006 mega-hit “Crazy” highlights the drumming of Ethan Luck and the bass playing of John Warne. However, Relient K’s best cover is of They Might Be Giants’s 1998 track “Doctor Worm.” A story about learning to play drums, “Doctor Worm” is a child-friendly, tongue-in-cheek affair which lends itself perfectly to Relient K’s propensity for peculiar lyrics.

The Is For Karaoke EP is ultimately an enjoyable, albeit forgettable, listen. Yet, for long-time Relient K fans, cover albums should come as no surprise. With such a vast catalog of original material, who can blame the group for yearning to tackle songs outside their own borders? Sure, if the listener is not familiar with the tracks— an unlikely event unless the listener resides under a slab of stone— then perhaps the luster of Is For Karaoke EP wanes a bit. But in the end, Is For Karaoke EP is simply fun, which is what Relient K was aiming for all along.

★ ★ ★ ☆☆

*This review was composed by Mike Meeze