Anberlin – New Surrender

I must confess a peculiar relationship with Anberlin.  If you asked me to recall even an individual song from the band’s growing discography I’d come up empty.  I don’t find the group particularly remarkable or consider them unique in any way.  Truth be told, I can’t remember a single melody they’ve written.  Yet, if you asked me how I felt about the Florida quintet I’d likely come across rather favourably.  And after listening to their 2008 Universal Republic debut, New Surrender, I can’t say my opinion has changed.

To compound matters, deep down I fully realize that each of Anberlin’s subsequent efforts provides very little in terms of innovation – and here New Surrender follows suit.  The album sounds just like every other pseudo-mainstream alternative-punk group that took hold in the 00’s.  Yet when I press play, I almost always l hear the album through.  Something about the New Surrender just grabs me.  It’s not that it’s an engaging listen, but rather that it feels safe, familiar, and altogether comforting.

It also doesn’t hurt that the band has all but perfected the art of the hook.  Anberlin plays radio-friendly melodies in a way that just sounds right – other groups spend years together never achieving such chemistry.  Vocalist Stephen Christian somehow finds that elusive key that always sounds youthful but mature.  On tracks like “The Resistance” he cries passionately without ever sliding into that high pitched, juvenile Taking Back Sunday-whine; but at the same time couldn’t feel more far-removed from traditional alternative groups like The Foo Fighters.

Furthermore, the album contains just enough subtle differentiation between songs to disguise Anberlin’s otherwise repetitive nature.  Tracks like “Blame Me! Blame Me!” land tight, bouncy choruses, while others like “Retrace” and “Breathe” offer big acoustic numbers – the kind that would make crowds sway lighters (or now a days, cell phones) in time with the flow.  It’s the little flourishes, like the mild distortion on “Burn Out Brighter (Northern Lights),” or the occasional soundboard noise and echoic harmony that keeps New Surrender listenable in its entirety.

But at the same time, as much as I’ve enjoyed New Surrender, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve heard this all before.  In a way it’s almost like Anberlin writes the same album time and again – no better, no worse.  While Anberlin keeps turning out listenable hook after listenable hook, they’re clearly not taking any risks.  So if you’ve enjoyed Anberlin in the past, then you’ll likely enjoy New Surrender – just don’t expect anything new.