Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 

Contests

 


Reviews



“Anberlin sucks because they are preachy God rock!”

Well, yes, Anberlin is a preachy God rock band. However, they really aren’t a bad band, by any measure, as their latest effort Cities proves. What we have here is a band ready to break through, without the catalyst to do so, much like Over It on 2005’s Silverstrand. These kids are ready to leave the pop-punk, indie pop, whatever they (or you) want to call it, and move on to bigger things, particularly arenas.

In Cities, Anberlin finds their way around pop-punk into straight-up modern rock, but not in a Nickelback sense. Rather, Anberlin takes the catchiness of their pop-punk peers, the melodies of sugary pop acts, and fuses them with rock reminiscent of, but certainly not parallel to, U2 and fellow Christ rock heroes, Switchfoot.

The opening punch of the single, “Godspeed,” finds Anberlin basically taking Taking Back Sunday’s sound by the balls, and making it their own. It’s really impressive, but then, it’s also most certainly the heaviest track on the album. They follow that up with two radio-pop-punk tracks, “Adelaide” and “A Whisper and a Clamour.” While these tracks are pretty by-the-numbers, they do prove one thing: Anberlin can out-do most of their peers with little effort.

Next, we have one of a few slower ballads, “The Unwinding Cable Car.” Probably the best of said ballads, “Cable Car” is sure to be found on many teenage girls’ MySpace pages, for, well, ages. Not that this is a bad thing, because it’s really a beautiful song. We get back to the core of the album now, with a handful of dark, energetic pop songs, including “Hello Alone,” which is proof that Anberlin could, and maybe should, be carrying arenas.

“Dismantle. Repair” is probably the best track on the entire disc, and should be the biggest radio hit this side of Fall Out Boy. Something is to be said for vocalist Stephen Christian, who just really shines on this track. The album closes with a fairly long, drawn out ballad, “*fin,” which, while it does contain pretty amazingly catchy lyrics, is pretty overblown.

I think when Tony Brummel signed a recent band, he said something like “these guys are kinetically radiant rock!” Well, maybe Tony’s band wasn’t, but Anberlin sure are on their way to pioneering that sound. Maybe it’s just the stellar production, but Anberlin’s Cities is just a really beautiful modern rock CD and if nothing else will stand as the best Tooth & Nail release this year.



People who liked this also liked:
Brand New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside MeRise Against - Revolutions Per MinuteThrice - The Artist In The AmbulanceRefused - The Shape of Punk to ComeLifetime - Somewhere in the Swamps of JerseyNOFX - Punk In DrublicStrike Anywhere - Dead FMBrand New - Deja EntenduNew Found Glory - Coming HomeRise Against - The Sufferer & the Witness



Please login or register to post comments.
What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
  • Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
  • Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
  • Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
  • Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

    Posted by contrast87 on 2007-03-22 20:35:35
    My Score:

    str8 masterpiece of rock

    Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2007-03-04 19:54:06
    My Score:

    no.

    Posted by coldwaffles on 2007-03-01 19:53:19

    "Anberlin was on conservativepunk.com in 2004 but later on decided they wanted to be removed from the site."

    Probably means they grew up a bit and realized that, first off, dividing your fanbase is stupid, second off, strictly following a party line is stupid.

    Posted by iknownothing on 2007-03-01 14:35:40

    So... many... commas.

    At least the opening quote is comma free.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 1, 2007 at 11:38 AM (EST)

    You do know how contradictory you sound when you bash the band for being conservative, and then make fun of them for being 'gay.' People who use the word gay as a synonym for stupid lose credibility in any argument immediately.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 1, 2007 at 4:25 AM (EST)

    liek OMFG...i want 2 let this band cum in my butthole, then i my mouth...

    BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 1, 2007 at 12:10 AM (EST)

    I'm new to this argument, but I got to second this:

    "conservative bush loving god boys - this shouldn't even be reviewed on this site"

    Posted by Anchors on 2007-02-28 22:04:20

    You can pretty much copy and paste my comment from the Ataris review here, especially the part about idiocy in the comments.

    Sucks, too, because I fucking loved the last one.

    I feel like this could be a grower, but I'd have been content with them making just about the same album as last time. Not a fan of the keyboards.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 5:59 PM (EST)

    mewithoutyou is the only good thing coming out of T and N

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 1:31 PM (EST)

    yup this band used to be called sagoh 24/7 Servants. after.gods.own.Heart...........yeah they changed thier names after they got signed to T and N, also these dudes are the biggest bunch of hypocrites you will ever meet.....They are talented musicians but just a bunch of hypocrites so it ruins the music for me....just saying- all of Tampa, Fl over 20

    Posted by shay on 2007-02-28 09:22:24

    ok so anberlin may not be the best band.. personally i dont like their music all that much for the people trashing them for being a christian band thats so not cool. our generation is headed no where fast and they may be '' godpreaching" or whatever but come on we need some one to speak some sense into us! theyre music is at least positive. i guess the main thing i wanted to say was dont trash them because they have standards or morals because now days people dont.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 11:43 PM (EST)

    Anberlin was on conservativepunk.com in 2004 but later on decided they wanted to be removed from the site.

    http://groups.inetbot.com/showgrp/de_palt_psoc_ppunk_s13 0.html

    Posted by dusticles on 2007-02-27 21:49:54

    http://www.conservativepunk.com/bands.asp

    I don't see them there. Maybe you guys are just ignorant dumb fucks! Pretty good album.


    yeah, cause if a band is not featured on a website then they must not fit the title. plase go away and take anberlin, underoath and all of the other jesuscore bands.

    Posted by newfoundmichael on 2007-02-27 20:53:24

    "They sound like every other Tooth and Nail band, with the occasional solid song."

    I agree with this minus a few T&N bands. I haven't heard the new album yet, but I didn't like the last one much...i'll check it out.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 8:43 PM (EST)

    its good for what it is i just dont really like this kind of music..

    Posted by Big_Guy on 2007-02-27 20:06:40

    Dismantle Repair is the only great track on here.

    a few good tracks and a lot of filler

    Posted by maverick on 2007-02-27 19:29:02
    My Score:

    "Dismantle Repair" and "Hello Alone" are two absolutely monstrous songs that nothing else on the record lives up to. It's a fun listen, but giving it more than a 7 is being really generous.

    -Scott

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 7:02 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    http://www.conservativepunk.com/bands.asp

    I don't see them there. Maybe you guys are just ignorant dumb fucks! Pretty good album.

    Posted by coldwaffles on 2007-02-27 18:48:16

    ""Well, yes, Anberlin is a preachy God rock band. However, they really aren’t a bad band..."

    Preachy God rock isn't bad? HAHAHAHA. This band fucking SUCKS. "Punk"news.org.... yeeahhhh."

    yessss for opinions!

    Posted by clamum on 2007-02-27 17:54:43

    "Well, yes, Anberlin is a preachy God rock band. However, they really aren’t a bad band..."

    Preachy God rock isn't bad? HAHAHAHA. This band fucking SUCKS. "Punk"news.org.... yeeahhhh.

    Posted by skaboom on 2007-02-27 16:00:50

    Anberlin is everything I usually dislike in a (insert genre of choice) band, but for some reason it clicks with them.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 3:55 PM (EST)

    then why were they a member of conservativepunk.com??

    it's not like we're making shit up here.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 3:47 PM (EST)

    The singer of this band is the sort of Christian who thinks for himself. He is most likely against the atrocities and contradictions of the bush administration.

    Don't lump all Christians in as conservative bush lovers, cause some of us really don't agree with bush.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 2:10 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I saw these guys in their home state when they were still Sagoh 24/7 or whatever. One of the most humorous experiences of my life. Awful music. Lame posturing. Evangelizing from the stage. They didn't take too kindly to all the heckling.

    Anyone tricked into thinking these guys don't blow goats by the slick production should stay at least 500 feet away from rock 'n' roll at all times.

    Posted by poooooooop on 2007-02-27 13:48:33

    theyre not generic, and if you say they are, tell me something thats not generic, it seems 99% of the bands that are on this site are generic for all of you people

    this album is amazing

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 1:11 PM (EST)

    even his last name is christian! shit's mad gay.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 12:39 PM (EST)

    jesus is for the church, mainly on sundays. not my fucking player.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 12:38 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    conservative bush loving god boys - this shouldn't even be reviewed on this site

    Posted by mikeinflames on 2007-02-27 11:30:30
    My Score:

    never been into these guys at all. but this album is solid.

    Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2007-02-27 11:09:20
    My Score:

    this band is crap. they were the staple "we're actually famous" member of conservativepunk.com. and they have a split with copeland. two of the shittiest bands claiming punk today.

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2007-02-27 11:04:48

    Ha, I meant to say 'this is only okay...'

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2007-02-27 11:03:47

    Posted by danperrone on 2007-02-27 09:32:23

    holy crap!!!

    this is the WUSSIEST CD EVER MADE

    seriously, if you like this album aside from "adelaide" which is a killer song...you're a wuss!

    (note that the wussiness does not come from the religious views...)


    This isn't only okay, but dude, you're a fucking prick.

    Posted by Scruffy on 2007-02-27 10:59:38

    "They sound like every other Tooth and Nail band, with the occasional solid song."

    I know this is mostly true with T&N's current roster, but I hate that it is. To me, there is no "Tooth And Nail sound". Starflyer 59, Outer Circle, Craig's Brother, Ghoti Hook, Crux, Twothirtyeight, Denison Witmer, The Huntingtons, Stavesacre, Blenderhead and more, they all sounded different. There was a time when T&N had good bands.

    Posted by danperrone on 2007-02-27 09:32:23

    holy crap!!!

    this is the WUSSIEST CD EVER MADE

    seriously, if you like this album aside from "adelaide" which is a killer song...you're a wuss!

    (note that the wussiness does not come from the religious views...)

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2007-02-27 08:22:36
    My Score:

    They sound like every other Tooth and Nail band, with the occasional solid song.

    Posted by coldwaffles on 2007-02-27 06:21:56

    "How are those in any way similar enough to be casually synonymous?"

    I've seen THEM call themselves indie in all kinds of interviews, and really, there are a ton of pop-punk bands going for that "indie" label now, like the Academy Is..., and Hellogoodbye. Does that make them "indie?" Not really. It's hip to be called indie. Just don't tell them the truth, you might hurt their feelings.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 2:12 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    didn't enjoy this as much as their first two...

    Posted by Archangel on 2007-02-27 01:47:51

    "the pop-punk, indie pop, whatever they (or you) want to call it,"

    How are those in any way similar enough to be casually synonymous?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 1:40 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I don't know where you get "preachy God rock" from. Yeah they don't hide their faith, but none of their songs are like "you all need to love God." I haven't seen them live so maybe they have preached at shows in the past. Whatever it's good stuff here.

    Posted by almostpunkenough on 2007-02-27 00:38:17
    My Score:

    i know everyone hates on these guys... your loss, this shit is truly epic, the album i've been waiting for them to make.

    Posted by historypeats on 2007-02-27 00:26:39
    My Score:

    Good review - and probably a more accurate score. I kept looking for reasons not to give this a 9, but I like it too much to knock it down. I've loved Anberlin's stuff for a long time, and they took a big leap forward here - everything sounds bigger and more skillful, and the drums and vocals have really improved. "Godspeed," "Whisper and a Clamor," "Dismantle.Repair." - all good stuff. I'll be playing this one all year long.

    Posted by dusticles on 2007-02-27 00:04:53
    My Score:

    no, this is actually lame. generic bullshit. ill pass