Anberlin
"New Surrender"
Tyler Vogler
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: The Edge
Anberlin has a reputation for deep, thoughtful lyrics over fresh melodies and catchy choruses. From their first release, "Blueprints for the Black Market," to their sophomore album, "Never Take Friendship Personal," the band grew exponentially, lyrically and musically. "Cities" continued that trend, and through each release, Anberlin's notably die-hard fan base increased exponentially.
It was clear from the beginning that Anberlin's latest release, "New Surrender," would take the band in a completely new direction. Fewer than 12 months after their last release, they signed with Universal Republic Records. The band switched long-time producer Aaron Sprinkle for industry heavyweight and notable hit-maker Neal Avron.
To some extent, "New Surrender" delivered.
Those familiar with previous Anberlin albums will immediately recognize their sound, and front man Stephen Christian's original voice truly stands out in the industry. This is the longest the band has ever worked on an album, spending months writing and rewriting in pre-production, yet the album still comes off as hit and miss.
The album starts out on a good foot with "The Resistance," a guitar-heavy track delivered with excellence by guitarists Joseph Milligan and Christian McAlhaney. "Breaking" sounds like the standard poignant break-up song, but stands out once again due to Christian's vocal delivery.
Tracks like "Disappear," "Blame Me! Blame Me!" and a reworked "Feel Good Drag," which was originally on the band's sophomore album, will satisfy anyone looking for fast-paced, guitar-heavy rock songs.
The band truly shines with a couple of introspective slow jams, "Retrace" and "Breathe." They both manage to put a new spin on the typical Anberlin sound, perfect for a slow dance without sounding too much like a ballad.
The album loses its momentum after "Burn Out Brighter (Northern Lights)." "Younglife" and "Haight St." both come off as hokey, almost regressing to amateur songs like those on the band's debut album.
Anberlin's last two albums have featured epic closing songs with elaborate instrumentation and storyline-driven lyrics. "Miserabile Visu (Ex Malo Bonum)" continues that trend with dramatic percussion and guitar solos, but ultimately leaves a lot to be desired. "(*Fin)," the closer from "Cities," set the bar incredibly high, and this time Anberlin couldn't top it.
It might not be the band's strongest album, but "New Surrender" is worth a couple of listens. Between the fast-paced tracks and slower, thoughtful songs, there is surely something for everyone.
It was clear from the beginning that Anberlin's latest release, "New Surrender," would take the band in a completely new direction. Fewer than 12 months after their last release, they signed with Universal Republic Records. The band switched long-time producer Aaron Sprinkle for industry heavyweight and notable hit-maker Neal Avron.
To some extent, "New Surrender" delivered.
Those familiar with previous Anberlin albums will immediately recognize their sound, and front man Stephen Christian's original voice truly stands out in the industry. This is the longest the band has ever worked on an album, spending months writing and rewriting in pre-production, yet the album still comes off as hit and miss.
The album starts out on a good foot with "The Resistance," a guitar-heavy track delivered with excellence by guitarists Joseph Milligan and Christian McAlhaney. "Breaking" sounds like the standard poignant break-up song, but stands out once again due to Christian's vocal delivery.
Tracks like "Disappear," "Blame Me! Blame Me!" and a reworked "Feel Good Drag," which was originally on the band's sophomore album, will satisfy anyone looking for fast-paced, guitar-heavy rock songs.
The band truly shines with a couple of introspective slow jams, "Retrace" and "Breathe." They both manage to put a new spin on the typical Anberlin sound, perfect for a slow dance without sounding too much like a ballad.
The album loses its momentum after "Burn Out Brighter (Northern Lights)." "Younglife" and "Haight St." both come off as hokey, almost regressing to amateur songs like those on the band's debut album.
Anberlin's last two albums have featured epic closing songs with elaborate instrumentation and storyline-driven lyrics. "Miserabile Visu (Ex Malo Bonum)" continues that trend with dramatic percussion and guitar solos, but ultimately leaves a lot to be desired. "(*Fin)," the closer from "Cities," set the bar incredibly high, and this time Anberlin couldn't top it.
It might not be the band's strongest album, but "New Surrender" is worth a couple of listens. Between the fast-paced tracks and slower, thoughtful songs, there is surely something for everyone.
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