Anberlin Band • Page 93

Closer has one of the best Anberlin choruses. First post-Cities song that gave me the same chills. It’s gigantic. The hatred for it breaks my heart.

Pray Tell is my favorite song on Dark though. That album doesn’t have the best songwriting the band has to offer, but I love the production and the mood. It takes me back to riding my bike around my neighborhood all sad-like.

 

Closer has one of the worst chorus' I've ever heard.

 

Then you have a stellar repertoire of choruses

 

A blessed man indeed.

 

If Lowborn had the production of Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place, and they had ditched the electronic sounds and programmed drums I would've enjoyed it much more.

 

The electronic elements on Vital, Devotion, and Lowborn are all stellar though.

 

I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen anybody else on here praise the chorus of Closer. It’s objectively bad.

Also, talking about ditching the electronic elements on Lowborn is silly. They’re an essential component of the album and I’m sure they were a core part of the songwriting process. The songs aren’t meant to exist without those pieces.

 

Then I guess the songs are just bad.

 

I just don’t understand how the presence of electronics can ruin songs, anymore than the presence of a bass guitar can ruin songs. Do you dislike all rock songs that feature electronic elements? Or do you just think this band doesn’t know how to use them?

 

Stranger Ways is one of my favorite Anberlin songs, and it would be nothing without the electronics.

 

I guess I'll have to go with the former. With a few exceptions. There's a little electronics, and there's too much electronics. Sad to see so many of my favorite alternative rock bands go down that road.

 

You're right. That song is great, and it needs to sound that way.

 

Objectively bad? I like it too.

I think the main problem is that most of the other choruses on that album are repetitive. If Closer was the only one I think it might come across as more effective.

 

Hot take without giving it much thought.

Dismantle. Repair is their best (aka my favorite) chorus .fm.

 

It ain't a hot take if you're pretty much correct.

 

The choruses of Paperthin Hymn and A Whisper & a Clamor changed my life. Not sure if they're the best choruses, but they got me into the band which basically got me into every other band.

 

Reclusion has a great chorus, love the "sins like skeletons are" backing line.

 

Lowborn is super good, happy to contribute to the conversation

 

I love the "bad decisions like ghosts that just won't die" line from Down.

 

I think this is a really good point. Closer’s chorus may not be particularly creative but its big, sounds epic; it’s at absolute worst inoffensive/boring.

I’d also like to throw Modern Age into the ring for best choruses.

Lastly, while I generally love how anberlin use electronics, I think they are pretty repetitive on Vital. At least like 3 songs use really similar/overly basic synth leads. They’re essential on lowborn tho.

 

I never got into Modern Age until we did the bracket at the beginning of this year. I love it now and it's one of my favourites.

 

Modern Age is a massive song but the only thing holding it back from being an all-timer is how Stephen's voice sounds in the chorus. It always sounded slightly autotuned or something to me.

Whisper & Clamor is the best Anberlin chorus.

 

Cities
Vital
NTFP
Lowborn
DITW, LITP
New Surrender
Blueprints

Cities is pretty much perfect. Vital came the closest to recapturing that magic and had some new things thrown in. NTFP is catchy but missing some of the depth from later releases. Lowborn is great but a little disjointed. DITW has a cool vibe, but it doesn't feel fleshed out enough, and the choruses are bland at times. NS has some great songs, but more that are pretty generic. Blueprints sounds like a debut.

 

I somehow was able to purchase Stephen's handwritten lyrics to Modern Age from someone selling their /50 Vital canvas and lyrics a year ago. Such a great song.

Anyone else get in on handwritten lyrics? Would be cool to hear what people have.

 

I agree on Modern Age. If it ain't broke don't fix it, Stephen doesn't need autotune or other heavy voice effects.