Anberlin (feat. Matty Mullins) – “High Stakes”

Seems they're being intentionally ambiguous about what Matty's role in the band really is. Is it Anberlin or Anberlin (feat. Matty Mullins)? The answer depends on your streaming platform of choice.

From Matty:

"When I first joined the band, Joey gave me a giant folder of old Anberlin instrumentals that never got used. The intention wasn’t to use them, but just for me to enjoy them as a fan. I went through all of the songs like a kid on Christmas. It was like having access to a time capsule and getting to see inside the making of one of my favorite bands of all time. The instrumental for what became ‘High Stakes’ stood out to me as one that really embodied the Anberlin that I fell in love with at 14 years old (the working title was JOMO 18). I instantly started writing to it and sharing with the guys. It’s an unbelievable honor to be a part of this new season of Anberlin & it’s so insanely cool to incorporate a piece of the bands history that the fans never heard. We couldn’t be more excited about this song and & can’t wait for everyone to hear it!"

He's right. The instrumental sounds like something around the NTFP time-period. Vocally though, it doesn't really sing "Anberlin" to me. Whether it's any good or not is going to be debated forever. I like it. I just struggle to square what the band is saying about these new tracks with what I'm hearing or seeing. The singer doesn't always *make* the band, but sometimes they kind of do. I'm boring myself with what I'm writing now, but anyway... Interesting times.

 

That's a good analysis. I do like that it is listed as featuring and not just them. That does have the distinction of him not being fully in the band. They can always do a different version with a different vocalist at any time then. But yeah I thought it was going to be mostly Matty for touring and songs were released with him so they had more to play with him live but don't know now.

 

high high stakes for a living

 

I agree with your take. It's very telling to me that they're releasing a new single featuring Matty just two months after releasing a full album that didn't feature him outside of one song (also a single). I wonder if they're seeing more love for the Matty song, so they're going to be more-heavily involving him than originally planned. I found the Anberlin album as a whole pretty boring and didn't really connect with it at all. But I liked the song with Matty, and I like this one too. Even if it doesn't necessarily feel like Anberlin.

 

Heh, the replies here are almost the exact opposite of the band thread; interesting.

I don't think I've ever seen someone say they preferred the two added Matty songs (IMO so far and away the worst stuff on there) to the last two EPs over the (IMO some of the band's strongest work) Stephen songs.

To echo what I said in the other thread: my biggest issue is I still just do not like Matty's vocals, especially compared to what came before. it sounds almost computer generated and lacking depth or definition. And the lyrical change from what they were doing before to these paint by numbers poker lyrics don't help at all.

I think Christian taking over would have been a better fit based on what little we've heard; it would at least be more interesting to me. Getting the matty fanbase was probably attractive though, but the tin foil sounding vocals are so very much not for me.

 

Jason stole the words out of my mouth.

This is very defeating for me; Anberlin was my favorite band of all time. When the intro of this song came on, I was somehow hopeful. What followed, lyrically, had me in a state of disbelief. It felt like someone typed "Write me a song about heartbreak using Poker as the analogy" into ChatGPT.

I will forever cherish, and miss, every single thing this wonderful band did prior to this Era.

 

Agree with the processing of Matty’s vocal. Didn’t really follow the guy’s work before, but I’ve only heard nice things about him. He seems genuinely excited for this opportunity even though he doesn’t *need* it. So I’m happy for him.

Weird, isn’t it? How this works better with some groups than others? Every band Tillian or Jonny Craig were in have swapped singers without much fuss (lots of overlap there, obviously). TBS and Mayday Parade come to mind as well. And then there’s groups like Anberlin or Linkin Park that become really divisive.

I think it has to do with longevity. These are bands with deep catalogs whereas a lot of revolving door post-hardcore or pop punk bands go just a record or two before making a lineup adjustment.

I also would have loved a more Christian-centric Anberlin. I LOVED the new stuff where he got to shine. I’m not opposed to change. I see the guys are having fun. But that’s not enough to keep these new tracks on my rotation.

 

Mayday nor TBS ever changed lead singers. Additionally, people were not happy when Fred was booted from TBS. He was the best part about that band.

Anyways, I am happy Anberlin seems happy about this new Era. Tough for me.

 

Fair point, I guess I’m getting at significant mid-career line up changes in popular bands that didn’t impact their success in the long run. People come around. Maybe that’s how it’ll go for Anberlin, but the longevity of their run tells me it’s less likely. At least for long-time fans.

 

Saosin fans would like to have a word. lol. They are still debating it.

 

They need to drop the act and just come out and say Stephen is gone and Matt is the new singer (in the studio, not just live) going forward.

Which is a shame cause lyrically, these new songs are awful. Stephen was a poet and this guy writes songs with as much nuance as a child would.