Anberlin

I have been gone seemingly every weekend this quarter visiting tons of different cities from Houston to Pittsburgh to San Diego. Fittingly one of my favorite rock bands, Anberlin, just released their highly anticipated album, Cities. Anberlin is one of those bands that reinvents themselves with each record, yet manages to keep their own distinct feel.

Their debut Blueprints for the Black Market has some almost 80's metal touches to it combined with soaring choruses, strong guitar fills, and driving drums. From their first album on, they are able to show their versatility in rockers like 'Readyfuels" to ballad-like tunes such as "Naive Orleans." Their second effort Never Take Friendship Personal adds much more of an uptempo element to the songs. They don't necessarily rock as hard as in the first album, but they make you want to run around your room and roll on your bed and mess up all the sheets and then run around some more like a ghost with your sheets over your head...not like I've done it before.

Their newest effort, Cities, produced by Aaron Sprinkle adds a more refined and darker element to Anberlin. The album kicks off with the wicked 'Godspeed" that really kicks you in the face. Perhaps a little overproduced, but nonetheless a solid song that really drives into and through the chorus. Throughout this album Anberlin's versatility really shines between slow songs such as 'The Unwinding Cable Car' and faster ones such as 'Adelaide'. One thing that really sticks out for me in this album is the improvement in the drumming. I really like the varying beats...not just hi-hat, snare, and bass...they really mix it up, use tight fills, and complement the melodies incredibly well. Take a listen for yourself and rock out a bit to Anberlin.

Anberlin - Glass to the Arson off of Blueprints

Anberlin - Time & Confusion off of Never Take Friendship Personal

Anberlin - Godspeed off of Cities

Anberlin - Dismantle.Repair. off of Cities