I have to be honest, when I heard that Anberlin had some tracks worked up for a new album, I got a little excited. Usually when I have a long time to anticipate a band’s next release, I build it up too much and then am disappointed when I pop it into the player for the first time. Well, luckily for me (and Anberlin fans too!), I didn’t have to endure that sad realization this time. “Cities” is all what I hoped and more!
After a funky intro, “Cities” takes off with “Godspeed,” a high adrenaline track that brings me back to Anberlin’s rocking sound as I remember it. Out of Polk County, Florida, this is Anberlin’s strongest release yet. They’ve brought their sound to a whole new level and left in the dust the pop flare of some tracks on earlier releases. Fans of “Blueprints…” and NTFP don’t fear though; this definitely isn’t something you won’t recognize. “Cities” has its compliment of slower songs and plenty of “woahs!” One of the first tracks “Adelaide,” is one of the most infectious songs Anberlin has written.
Overall, this album sticks with a harder rock sound and has the best unity of their three long plays. Remaining with producer Aaron Sprinkle (who was with Anberlin for the last two releases), the production of “Cities” is nothing less than superb. Each piece is better that before, culminating in a superb sound. The change in “Cities” goes beyond merely maturing between albums (one of the things that set “Never Take Friendship Personal” apart from “Blueprints for the Black Market”), and is an improvement of their sound in whole. “Cities” has been in the works for a while, and the extra time definitely paid off in final execution. Everything from Stephen Christian’s voice to simple background work on the guitars sounds is better, and the work from drummer Nate Young is his best effort to date.
The only complaint I have about the album is that the edgy energy I’m used to hearing on the first two albums isn’t as prevalent. Some tracks have a feel of skillful restraint, which makes for a slightly different sound, but in no way is it bad, just something different. There is even use of acoustic guitar in “The Unwinding Cable Car” and “Fin.”
One thing that hasn’t changed is Anberlin’s message. Still pointing in a positive direction, Anberlin wants to make sure you know that: “With downcast eyes/There is more to living than being alive.” (Alexithymia) Anberlin isn’t known for singing directly about Christianity, but this has also allowed them to play on many secular circuits and spread their music to all types of people. Success hasn’t diminished their faith at all from what I’ve seen.
Some of the standout tracks on the album are “Godspeed,” “Hello Alone,” (which has one of my favorite chorus’s on the album) “Dismantle Repair,” and the powerful “Fin.” The final track, “Fin,” has some of the most beautiful vocals and lyrics of any song by Anberlin, and even features a children’s choir as lead singer Christian asks if we are all just “lost causes.” This has the makings of real hit, and I would be surprised to not hear it on the radio eventually.
Do whatever you can to get your hands on a copy of “Cities,” it is well worth the wait and you won’t regret it. I think it has a chance of being one of the best albums of 2007, so don’t miss out!
Article by Brad Biggs
