Anberlin
Anberlin are one of those bands that I've only ever 'heard of but not really listened to', so when their new album landed on my desk, I just sort of cast it to one side and carried on listening to Biffy.
But as the release date grew closer, more and more people were harping on aobut this new record so I thought it was only fair to give them a listen. I dug the CD out form under the various rubbish that arrives in the post each day and stuck it on…
They're good, that's a given. No, they're not doing anything overly different to a lot of bands out there, but then again 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.'
Opener “We Owe This To Ourselves”, is enough to get my attention as I try to find some interesting news to write about, whilst “Impossible” and “Take Me As You Found Me”, keep my interest piqued as they move from happy guitar-led sounds to a pretty little sing-a-long track which is bound to be a radio hit. Well, if any stations agree to play them.. I'm sure if they ring that Fearne Cotton chick she'll give them some airplay? She'd do anything to be 'cool'.
"Closer" is something more akin to what I look for in a band, and it's the type of track that will go down well with festival-goers next summer, I'm going to start learning the words now in case they show their faces at Download or Leeds….
“You Belong Here” is a pretty simple melodically driven, hopeful anthem and whilst I thought "Closer" was going to be my favourite, after listening to this four or five times now, it's overtaking it. It's the token love song that emo kids can stick on in the background whilst trying to seduce their girlfriend and keep their sweeping fringe out of their eyes.
Speaking of emo (well, not really) I don't like the opening to "The Art Of War" as it sounds like there are little termites in my head banging against my headphones to try and get out of my ears… the rest of the song is okay though, it sounds a bit like it's being sung by Cliff Richard though.
I lost interest after that and I wanted to go and listen to The Lion King, so I thought I'd skip to the closing track, "Depraved" which actually turned out to be pretty good. it’s a bit ethereal (if a 'rock' band can actually be classed as that) and has a nice, powerful chorus with makes me tap my slippers underneath my desk.
In all, my friends were right, they are good, but so are Take That, and I wouldn't buy their album, so until I see them live, I think the jury is out on these guys - and unless they support a band I love or play a festival stage without clashing with another great band, I'm not sure if that will happen.
I SO want to be proven wrong, even just so that I can fit in with all the trendy kids who like Anberlin because they're told it's fashionable to, so let's wait and see.