Anberlin are a band that never quite got itself over the line. The push they’ve received into the mainstream- through radio airplay, consistent media attention- would have you believe they were a much more successful band than they really are, yet their music and appeal has often been more of a residual thud than a loud conceivable bang. It is not to say they are not competent, far from it, they’re actually really good at what they do- histrionic alternative rock rooted in punk aesthetics. Yet it’s all just very forgettable. Perhaps it didn’t help that the first song that caught initial attention was the Blueprints for the Black Market’s “Foreign Language.” For anyone who has heard this track, they can attest to it being one of the single worst songs you’ll hear from this genre. Hideous lyrics compounded by some of the most hilariously misplaced harmonies (those wacky “do do do do do’s … awful every time you hear it”) left a uniquely sour taste.
They did however, get much better, and through the sea of full lengths that followed- Never Take Friendship Personal, Cities, New Surrender- there was a vast improvement in their musical stability. Essentially, they wrote better songs peaking in mainstream appeal with New Surrender. Yet the lingering anonymous nature of their songs continued the plague them. So comes Dark Is The Way, Light Is the Place, their next foray into the faceless nature of radio friendly alternative rock that ends with surprisingly decent results. Buoyed by the impressively catchy single “Impossible” and the U2-esque structures of “Take Me (As You Found Me)”, Dark Is The Way proves that sometimes bland isn’t all that bad. Tempos are mixed (“Pray Tell”), melodies tightened (“You Belong Here”) and the pace of the album gives listeners something to come back to.
Saosin and Cirva Survive may do this with a bit more depth, but you can’t fault Anberlin for being who they are. Consistency has been a problem and while they’re really finding solid ground with their latest, it’s conspicuously safe. And one of the worst thing you could ever say about a rock band is that they’re pretty vanilla. (Universal Republic)
Rating: 
Not a great review, this album is at least a 3 star (at the very least as well). Forgettable? Is that why Feel Good Drag is the longest charting modern rock song in history, and 44th most requested alternative rock song of the decade? I tell you one thing that is forgettable…this review. Go get some writing skills and then start again with some insight.
"Foreign Language" was probably the worst Anberlin song but to call it the worst of the genre? Good grief, far from it.
It seems that bias against the band is already evidenced in the 2-star rating, which doesn't even seem to go with for the textual review you posted.
this review sucks. what a douche!
WHAT IS THIS GUY SMOKING? CIRCA AND SAOSIN? I THINK SAOSIN IS DEAD! FOR BEING 'PLAIN' THEY ARE OUTLASTING ALL THEIR PEERS, AND WITH MORE SUCCESS AND BETTER RECORDS!
Awful review, nothing more to say. 2/5 is just ridiculous.
I'm amazed people actually like bland, vanilla acts like Anberlin to begin with. I'm a closet Circa Survive fan but I find it staggering that people can't see the considerable more depth and emotion to their music than plain bands like Anberlin.
Nail. On the head.
Good review.
lmao. what a fucking horrible review.
'New Surrender' wasn't a great album, but 'Cities' was a gem, you should give it some listens. By no means that was a 'bland, vanilla' album.
To say that Anberlin "never quite got itself over the line" is ridiculous. I'm not even that much of an Anberlin fan, but they are clearly one of the most artistically sound bands in this genre. Not many vocalists have the ability to sound like Stephen does without the many vocal touch-ups, and the bass lines in Never Take Friendship Personal are much more than most bands would even care to attempt.
Side note: Perhaps a new quality vocalist, and/or producing their own music will make Saosin not suck anymore…because they do.
Thank you James.
Horrible review!
I agree that the review doesn't go with the rating. You say you are surprised their new album is decent. 2/5 is not decent and takes away any credibility from the actual review. Anberlin are a concept album band. They garner a following from their steady fan base which is why they are still around. Christians lyrics and haunting vocal melody create seering emotion with amazing songs such as fin, the haunting, unwinding cable car and Miserabile Visu. Just because they havn't cracked the mainstream, doesnt mean they arn't a great band
This made me laugh…what a terrible review. Anberlin has consistently put out amazing albums that are filled with emotion and meaning. To say that they lack depth or that they are "vanilla" is so far off. And honestly comparing saosin or circa survive to anberlin is shameful. Neither saosin nor circa survive can match up to the genius of anberlin's lyrics or to Stephens amazing vocals. I loved the new cd! Good job guys!
Never Take Friendships Personal is their best and most cohesive effort – that album is their most memorable and would have been huge if it was released today.
hahaha
i think the guy that wrote this needs to find himself a new job…
pathetic review
To be honest, i hate this album. Blueprints For the Blarkmarket, Cities, and Never Take Friendship Personal were gems. Its amazing how upbeat the music sounded, even with the less-than-happy lyrics. But New Surrender had a couple of songs that turned me off, but i enjoyed the album due to the strong songs "Soft Skeletons", "The Resistance", and "Disappear". Even "Breaking" was good. But after listening to those first 3 albums to the point that the CDs didn't read and i had to re purchase them all… This album doesn't fit. It's a boring album. "Impossible" sounded good, and got me excited for the album. I'm still eagerly waiting for new music and LOVE Anberlin, but you guys can keep this album. I'll be listening to
"(The Symphony Of) Blasé"
"Naive Orleans"
"Glass to The Arson"
"Paperthin Hymn"
"Time & Confusion"
"The Runaways"
"There Is No Mathematics To Love & Loss"
"Hello Alone"
"Reclusion"
and all the rest of those cherished Anberlin hits. I hope this new CD grows on me.
KJ I agree with you completely, however I still think this album deserves a 3
and it was a very fail review, you concentrated too much on what the album wasn't, not what it is.
You are supposed to be giving a cd review, not a god damn history lesson!
Two stars is too much. This album is the worst thing Anberlin have put out. I do not comprehend how such talented songwriters can succumb to this level of blandness. It is just plain wrong. I smell a desperate attempt to grab the attention of a larger audience. We've all heard these songs before. Anberlin did them on their previous records. The problem is, they did them A LOT better. These are just watered down versions. The riffs and chord progressions are as unimaginative as you can imagine. The melodies have not been given any thought. I won't even comment on the lyrics.
I don't know how, as a musician and an artist, you can look at yourself in the mirror with a straight face after releasing such utter crap. This completely ruins the legacy of Anberlin for me.
I was very disappointed with this really terrible article. Anberlin has always made great music and i love their old stuff to death! To say this band is forgettable is absolute insanitary. There are so many people i know that have been deeply moved by this heartfelt music. The great thing about Anberlin is that not only do they have amazing lyrical content, but they have (I believe) the most ground breaking sounds ever produced.
Ya it was a really bad review
This album isnt that bad but its not that good either. Its actually rather depressing to me as it is downbeat and lacks the musical complexity I was expecting 
I hope they don't take this path any further and "back up" to their previous styles. I like the more complex music, music you can relate to and "feel". Sadness is a turnoff for me in music although its not always bad if executed properly. Best case this was just a test album to see what it'd be like. Let's hope that is the case 
So poorly written it's not even funny. I don't really like the album but even I don't think it's that bad. Wow.
Yeah this review was garbage. Never mind my ridiculous bias towards the band. Simply put the generalizations here are all ridiculous (never mind the irony there).
You seem to avoid the best parts of Anberlin as a whole, justifying that they're a "vanilla band" by omitting their best songs like "Feel Good Drag" and "(*fin)" (and the other closers). Listen to (*fin) or in this case "Depraved" and tell me this is some sort of commonplace band.
Lines like this show you're good with choosing powerful rhetoric with empty meaning behind them:
"histrionic alternative rock rooted in punk aesthetics."
"Histrionic" is a cheap shot at insulting the emotional nature of their songs without giving it the due credit it deserves ("Down," for example, like their other acoustic songs is a beautiful song that really pays homage to stripped down emo acts).
You mention Saosin and Circa Survive (Jeez do you have an Anthony Green mancrush or are you talking about modern-era Saosin) but I don't think they're any more "deep" at all. Anberlin leans more mainstream (at least than Circa Survive) but the quality of the work is probably better.