Cities

Anberlin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 20, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Tooth & Nail Records
• ASIN: B000MM0L3C
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,643 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Unlike most emo bands that merely offer a laundry list of personal hardships over the sound of loud guitars, the members of Anberlin know that they can seek salvation in a higher power, so the songs on Cities aren't so much about self-pity as self-preservation. It's a refreshing twist on the formula, especially when paired with the industrial-strength hooks the spiritual Florida band knocks out on tracks like "Dismantle. Repair." and "Godspeed." On the latter, the group's frontman Stephen Christian lashes out against the bad habits of his secular counterparts: "Tell them who you were, who you really were/Kill yourself slowly over time, fashion statement suicide." --Aidin Vaziri

Product Description

Anberlin expands its grasp of what a rock record can be with their third studio album, Cities. The Florida quintet's cohesive and adventurous new album uplifts as much as it initiates thought and elicits emotion. The writing team of singer Stephen Christian and guitarist Joseph Milligan drives Anberlin, alongside veteran producer Aaron Sprinkle, to a new frontier with vastly widened boundaries on Cities. In addition to the regular version of the album, there is an additional version of the album available! The limited "Special Edition" features special packaging with exclusive artwork, plus a bonus DVD with behind-the-scenes, in the studio, "making of" footage, and more. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Third Time's a Charm, February 20, 2007

By 

J. R. Morales "Critic - www.180magazine.net" (Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cities (Audio CD)

If you enjoyed "Blueprints for the Black Market" and loved "Never Take Friendship Personal", "Cities" is the album that you've been waiting for. In a way, it's more of the same: the winning combo of "Never Take Friendship Personal" with the raw energy of "Blueprints[...]". So, if you enjoyed their previous two albums, you're certain to like this one. There is, however, an evident maturity throughout.

The time spent into making this album is obvious, as the production, quality and "feel" of the album is very near perfection. Musically, Anberlin kept faithful to their unique sound, while adding elements that ensure creative musicianship in this critic's mind - many, many vocal harmonies, for example; as well as use of other instruments like violins and, if my ears didn't decieve me, a Children's Choir (in the brilliant "(*Fin)"). Vocal overlays and vocal sound effects also add variety in this energetically beautiful production. There are also some more slower songs ( the first of which was seen in "Never Take[...]"), that are uncommonly original and equally alluring. Lyrically, this album is much more poetic than their previous releases, thus making it a bit more profound. From lost loves to finding salvation, Anberlin knows what they're doing and it most certainly shows. One song that I truly love that is missing from this album is "Haunting", the six minute masterpiece you got for free if you dowloaded the "Godspeed" single off of iTunes (you can still get it there, by the way).

Overall, this is a must-have for all Anberlin fans and a great start-up album if you're not. If you found their previous releases mild and average, that's probably what you'll think of this one. No matter where you stand, however, this awesome band has made a fantastic record (both in content and production) worthy of a good listen or two.

Enjoy!

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Phenomenal, February 21, 2007

By 

EtErNaL "eternalf8" (Albuquerque, NM United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cities (Audio CD)

Read all the professional reviews, and tell me if you can find one bad review about this CD. I have yet to find one. In fact, I challenge you to find one that does not rant and rave about this CD and how good it is.

I am an avid music listener and I have over 200 CDs. I knew "Cities" by Anberlin was going to be amazing (from all the hype about it and falling in love with a couple sample songs before the CD even came out). So I went to buy the CD on opening day. I'll just cut straight to the chase. After listening through the CD only about 1 and 1/2 times, the CD became an instant favorite. This happens VERY VERY rarely to me. In fact, I am pretty sure the same applies to most everyone.

"Cities" is a masterpiece. Want to know why? To put it shortly, The songs are incredibly melodic and addictive. The rhythm, guitar work and vocals on each song is mind-blowing. The production quality is downright professional.

If you're looking for all out rock (kinda like Anberlin's first CD), you won't find as much of it on here. You still will find plenty though. The amount of "all out rock" songs may be not as much as their previous albums, but the quality/edginess matches, if not surpasses them. "Godspeed" and "A Whisper and a Clamor" will no doubt get your adrenaline flowing with each listen. Others like "Adelaide," "Hello Alone," and a few others will top off your needs to rock out, and will also provide you a moment to bask in these songs' soothing lyrics and melody. One that sticks out the most to me, as it does to many other fans apparently, is "Dismantle Repair." It's a wonderfully written song that balances itself between the soft side and edgy side of Anberlin.

However, where I really think this album shines and makes such an outstanding contrast from their previous work is its providing the listener with incredibly written, softer, acoustic-driven songs. I fell in love with these songs the second I heard the first chord. There are many on the CD, and each one is beautiful and mesmorizing to say the least. And I think this is where Anberlin has shown their maturity/progression as a band in this album. "The Unwinding Cable Car" and "Inevitable" (Anberlin's romantic ballad for this CD) are definitely two of my favorites.

I saved the best for last. And so did Anberlin. "Fin," the last track on the regular edition album, is, personally, one of, if not the, prettiest and most amazing songs I have ever heard in my life. You don't need to take it from me though. Every review never fails to mention this song and describe it as "epic," "beautiful," etc. It's 8 and a half minutes long, and it will utterly captivate you. It starts out acoustically and is so harmonious that it will be enough to make you want to close your eyes and give full attention to the sound is making your ear drums feel like they just hit nirvana. The song progresses into melodic rock. After a while, you will start to hear a beautiful children's choir start to sing over the electric guitars, and there's a good chance that you will fade in and out of reality. Ok maybe not, but it can certainly happen. Just listen to the song yourself. Everything matches perfectly. The song fades out with Christian's vocals reaching the highest I have ever heard them.

I whole-heartedly agree with many of the reviews I've read when they say that this is very likely to become the best CD of 2007 in the rock/Christian/indie music scene. Heck, it's one of the best in my music collection.

Get the CD. No questions asked. (The special edition has 3 bonus tracks and is $10 at Best Buy on its opening week)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Third Time's a Charm, February 20, 2007

By 

J. R. Morales "Critic - www.180magazine.net" (Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cities (W/Dvd) (Spec) (Audio CD)

If you enjoyed "Blueprints for the Black Market" and loved "Never Take Friendship Personal", "Cities" is the album that you've been waiting for. In a way, it's more of the same: the winning combo of "Never Take Friendship Personal" with the raw energy of "Blueprints[...]". So, if you enjoyed their previous two albums, you're certain to like this one. There is, however, an evident maturity throughout.

The time spent into making this album is obvious, as the production, quality and "feel" of the album is very near perfection. Musically, Anberlin kept faithful to their unique sound, while adding elements that ensure creative musicianship in this critic's mind - many, many vocal harmonies, for example; as well as use of other instruments like violins and, if my ears didn't decieve me, a children's choir (in the brilliant "(*Fin)"). Vocal overlays and vocal sound effects also add variety in this energetically beautiful production. There are also some more slower songs ( the first of which was seen in "Never Take[...]"), that are uncommonly original and equally alluring. Lyrically, this album is much more poetic than their previous releases, thus making it a bit more profound. From lost loves to finding salvation, Anberlin knows what they're doing and it most certainly shows. One song that I truly love that is missing from this album is "Haunting", the six minute masterpiece you got for free if you dowloaded the "Godspeed" single off of iTunes (you can still get it there, by the way).

Overall, this is a must-have for all Anberlin fans and a great start-up album if you're not. If you found their previous releases mild and average, that's probably what you'll think of this one. No matter where you stand, however, this awesome band has made a fantastic record (both in content and production) worthy of a good listen or two.

SPECIAL EDITION

Of the three (3) bonus tracks that appear in the Special Edition, "Uncanny" is the only one that really struck me as something that should've been included in the core "Cities" album. The Smiths' cover song "There is a Light that Never Goes Out" is a truly sweet song and it's par with it's original counterpart. It's lack of progressions towards the end of the song, however, make it seem a bit monotone. The cover song "The Promise" -by When In Rome- is not that bad and Anberlin did a great job of the vocals

On the DVD, there is a "Making Of" featurette that is quite interesting, if you're into that sort of thing. The Bonus Features are quite enjoyable and include a photo slideshow of the band in the studio, the "Cities" teaser/trailer and how the "Whoa-hos and hey-eys" came to be.

Enjoy!