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Genre: pop punk/emo/christian rock Rating:  ½Check Out: “(The Symphony of) Blasê,” “Paperthin Hymn,” “Dance, Dance Christa Paffgen,” “The Runaways”  Myspace, website for new album Cities |
This is one of those albums from those lesser-known artists that make you wonder exactly who is pulling the strings that get certain songs on the radio and leave others by the wayside. Anberlin hails from Florida, and though they’ve only been a band for a relatively short 5 years, their talent is already garnering critical praise and giving these boys a great fanbase.
Never Take Friendship Personal is their second album, released in 2005, and so-named because of the departure of guitarist Joey Bruce, who apparently wanted the ‘sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll’ lifestyle, which the rest of the band did not. As a result, the entire album sounds like a verbal lashing, ranging from the initial screams to the latter quiet sorrow of a friendship broken.
The most distinctive part of this band, and probably the one person who really brings it into the spotlight, is lead singer Stephen Christian. He certainly has the most distinctive voice I’ve ever heard from a guy in a band, and that’s what really sells these songs. The slower “Paperthin Hymn” and faster “Never Take Friendship Personal” are equally perfect examples of his vocal range.
By the end of the album, you’ll be wishing that you could hear more of that range. Well, fret not, their more recent album Cities is an absolute masterpiece (and will be reviewed here SOON). But even after hearing Cities, I have to admit that Never Take Friendship Personal is still a very strong album to fall back on.
