DT: NOVEMBER 26, 2007
FR: LIBBY HENRY/KRISTINE ASHTON MAGNUSON/CHELSI SCHRIVER
ANBERLIN:
AS THE GROUP’s ‘CITIES’ ALBUM CONTINUES TO GARNER
CRITICAL ACCLAIM,
BAND RELEASES NEW B-SIDES COLLECTION
‘LOST SONGS’
NEW VIDEO FOR ”THE UNWINDING CABLE CAR” UP NOW ON MYSPACE
U.S. TOUR WITH MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK ARRIVES IN
LOS ANGELES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4 AT THE WILTERN THEATER
As acclaim continues to grow for the ANBERLIN’s third studio album CITIES–which debuted on the Billboard Top 200 chart at #19–the group just released a special collection of B-sides and rarities titled LOST SONGS. The 19-song disc features rare and never-before-released material spanning the band’s entire career with special acoustic versions, cover songs and B-sides (see full track listing below).
ANBERLIN are currently crossing the U.S. on their fall tour with Motion City Soundtrack, Mae and Metro Station. Upcoming high-profile tour stops include The Wiltern in Los Angeles on Tuesday, December 4, the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland on Friday, December 14 and a two-night stand at the House of Blues in Chicago on Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16.
ANBERLIN recently shot a video for “The Unwinding Cable Car,” the second single off CITIES which follows the popular track “Godspeed.” The group took a pared-down approach by shooting the clip in black and white and perfectly capturing the epic track. Alternative Press magazine praised the song for containing, “shimmering acoustic instrumentation,” Outburn called it “breathtaking…” and All Music.com heralded, “the acoustic guitar-driven “The Unwinding Cable Car’ is emo at its most naked.”
Check out the video for “The Unwinding Cable Car” here: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.showvids&friendID=3844590&n=3844590&MyToken
=a99d2022-aa12-4dc1-9f75-0e0b56e6d15c
2007 continues to be a breakthrough year for the FL-based ANBERLIN–STEPHEN CHRISTIAN (Vocals), JOEY MILLIGAN (Lead Guitar), DEON REXROAT (Bass), CHRISTIAN MCALHANEY (Rhythm Guitar) and NATE YOUNG (Drums)–who announced earlier this fall they’ve signed with Universal Republic Records and will release their fourth studio album mid 2008.
Check out some of the solid critical reaction for ANBERLIN and CITIES:
“…an album that is truly deserving of hyperbolic adjectives like ‘massive.’ When the opening riff to ‘Godspeed’ (the album’s first single) kicks in after a brief instrumental prelude, it’s capable of stopping your heart as fast as it’ll blast your eardrums. ‘They lied when they said the good die young,’ Christian croons over the song’s chorus, as the guitars drive the song to an inevitable climax that encounters electronic flourishes, soaring backing vocals and yes, a full-on guitar solo along the way. Amazingly, the rest of CITIES retains that grandiosity without falling back on formulas. ‘The Unwinding Cable Car’ features shimmering acoustic instrumentation and sounds eerily like Tonight and Forever-era Sense Field, while ‘Reclusion’ introduces futuristic synthesizers into the band’s brand of guitar-driven modern rock to create a Duran Duran meets Jimmy-Eat-World hybrid.”
–Jonah Bayer, ALTERNATIVE PRESS, 6/2007
“Stocked with surging, textured arena-emo anthems like ‘Hello Alone.’ …CITIES is Anberlin’s entry into ambitious Big Album territory.”
–Mikael Wood, REVOLVER, 6/2007
“Single ‘Godspeed,’ as its name suggests, is a fevered, headlong rush that glories in spiraling production and exhilarating chorus. Imagine spinning in delirious circles under a vast, clear sky, reveling in the dizzying velocity. We don’t know whether to call it post-emo or turbo-charged pop rock, but no doubt, Anberlin is in the final countdown to stardom.”
–Christa Titus, BILLBOARD, 3/3/07
“‘Godspeed’ is the new single from the emo band Anberlin, and it's a blast: zippy and melodramatic in equal measure. As the band gallops along, encouraged by the occasional ‘Whoa-oh’ or ‘Hey!,’ Stephen Christian sings about love and drugs and death, evoking a familiar mishmash of post-adolescent confusion. But Mr. Christian isn't quite as confused as he first sounds. …In the defiant chorus, confusion gives way to furious indictment of ‘fashion-statement suicide’: "They lied when they said the good die young/Stay with me, stay with me tonight." …With CITIES, Anberlin's grand and rousing third album, emo should become a little harder to ignore.”
–Kelefa Sanneh, NEW YORK TIMES, 2/19/07
“With 2005’s Never Take Friendship Personal, Anberlin laid out one of emo’s most finely detailed emotional roadmaps. CITIES, though, constructs its skyline from the inner psyche, using the steely beams of Joseph Milligan and Nathan Strayer’s guitars and Stephen Christian’s glassy tenor as basic materials. ‘I grow tired of writing songs while people listen but never hear what’s really going on now,’ Christian sings, and, while he certainly has his inscrutable moments, he also invests plenty of meaning in CITIES’ towering melodies.”
–Brian Mansfield, USA TODAY, 2/20/07
“The new disc is a sonic leap forward, with an emphasis on rich melodies and no more screamo. An instrumental interlude ‘Debut’ is followed by an adrenaline-pumping anthem ‘Godspeed’ and capped off by the swelling epic final track ‘Fin,’ which clocks in at more than eight minutes and features a boy’s choir. Elsewhere, the tunes recall the urgency of Jimmy Eat World ‘Hello Alone’ with The Church-styled moodiness ‘The Unwinding Cable Car.’ Copeland’s Aaron Marsh provides guest vocals on ‘Inevitable.’”
–George Paul, INLAND VALLEY DAILY BULLETIN, (Los Angeles Newsgroup), 3/9/07
“Everything about Anberlin’s third album CITIES is bigger and better than its breakthrough previous album Never Take Friendship Personal. In fact, CITIES has a louder bark, a deeper bite, packs a bolder attitude and has a bigger set of balls than anything this FL band has done previously. And it wouldn’t be a shock if CITIES, with its edgy yet emotional rock anthems like ‘Adelaide,’ the breathtaking acoustic number ‘The Unwinding Cable Car,’ and the whipsmart ‘A Whisper And A Clamour,’ is the album that defines Anberlin’s career down the road. …Anberlin has managed the unthinkable feat: seamlessly and effortlessly combining the hugeness of arena rock with the earnest honesty of indie rock on a single album.”
–Amy Sciarretto, OUTBURN, April–June 2007
“…make way for ‘Inevitable’: When you put soft hooks to a lyric like ‘I want to the last first kiss that you’ll ever have,’ you end up with inescapable, last-a-lifetime stuff.”
–Ben Wener, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 2/26/07
“Anberlin, now on its third album, has made the record meant to launch the Florida-based emo outfit into the major leagues. ‘Godspeed’ serves as nothing less than an unapologetic grand slam, its successor ‘Adelaide’ bridges the chasm twixt glam rock of olde and the current variety being paraded about by the Hot Topic nation with grace and maturity, while the ballad-y ‘The Unwinding Cable Car’ could easily be a Travis outtake…[frontman] Christian proves himself as one of the better pop lyricists at the moment.”
—WICHITA CITY PAPER, 3/1/07
“…the band still remains true to their roots with frontman Stephen Christian’s vocal melodies being more catchy than ever while keeping his signature grittiness. Another of the most visually engaging live bands coming up right now, Anberlin is quickly becoming the band on everyone’s radar. “
–Brien Overly, CAMPUS CIRCLE, (Southern CA), 3/10/07
“Anberlin is no stranger to the emo-inflicted rock landscape. Now with its third album, the quintet has expanded its beefed-up, uber-melodic approach to include heavier subject matter and acoustic balladry. Make no mistake though, soaring vocals and raging guitars dominate this offering.”
–Albert Vega, MUSIC CONNECTION, 3/25/07
“CITIES is a building, swelling epic.’”
–Matt Neatock, CHORD (4/2007)
“Solid standouts among the current crop of Alternative Press-approved dance-rock contenders, Anberlin deliver their most modern-sounding collection of 80’s inspired synthed-up throwdowns.”
–Julie Seabaugh, LAS VEGAS WEEKLY, 3/9/07
“A flawless production revealing powerful vocals and the perfect blend of instruments. Songs like ‘Godspeed’ capture your attention right off the bat with their high energy guitar riffs and choruses that beg you to sing along.”
–Shane Weller, NO COVER, 4/2007
“Sticky sweet pop melodies, explosive pop-punk chord progressions…tracks such as the acoustic guitar-driven ‘The Unwinding Cable Car’ is emo at its most naked and includes some pretty darn impressive vocal harmonies.”
–Greg Prato, ALL MUSIC, 2/20/07
“The highlight of CITIES comes in the form of the six and a half minute album closer, ‘Fin.’ The acoustic guitar is mesmerizing as Christian calmly sings his passionate lyrics. The song reaches its peak when all the instruments kick in, along with a children’s choir, to give ‘Fin’ an emphatic and epic ending. Not only is it the best song Anberlin has ever written, but it’s also one of the best songs you’ll hear in 2007.”
–Drew Beringer, ABSOLUTEPUNK.NET, February 2007
“…epic, electro-leaning walls of sound.”
—CREATIVE LOAFING (Tampa), 3/29/07
Following is the complete track listing for ANBERLIN’s LOST SONGS:
1) The Haunting (CITES, B-side)
2) Uncanny (CITIES, B-side)
3) Like A Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan cover)
4) A Day Late (Never Take Friendship Personal, B-side, Acoustic)
5) Enjoy The Silence (Depeche Mode cover)
6) Cadence (Blueprints For The Black Market, Acoustic)
7) Downtown Song (Never Take Friendship Personal, B-side)
8) There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (The Smiths cover)
9) Dismantle. Repair (CITIES, Acoustic)
10) The Promise (When In Rome cover)
11) Naïve Orleans (Blueprints For The Black Market, Acoustic)
12) Inevitable (AOL Sessions Undercover)
13) The Unwinding Cable Car (AOL Sessions Undercover)
14) Creep (Radiohead cover, AOL Sessions Undercover, Acoustic)
15) Christmas, Baby Please Come Home (Happy Christmas Vol. 4)
16) Readyfuels (Blueprints For The Black Market, Demo version)
17) Driving- Autobahn (Blueprints For The Black Market, Demo version)
18) Everywhere In Between (Demo)
19) Glass To The Arson, in Midi (Blueprints For The Black Market, B-side) *Bonus Track
Catch ANBERLIN on the road:
DATE | CITY | VENUE | ||||||
w/Motion City Soundtrack, Mae, Metro Station | ||||||||
Tue | 11/20 | Columbus, OH | Newport Music Hall | |||||
Wed | 11/21 | Detroit, MI | The Fillmore of Detroit | |||||
Fri | 11/23 | Milwaukee, WI | Eagles Ballroom | |||||
Sat | 11/24 | Minneapolis, MN | Myth | |||||
Tue | 11/27 | Spokane, WA | The Service Station | |||||
Wed | 11/28 | Seattle, WA | Showbox | |||||
Thu | 11/29 | Portland, OR | Roseland Ballroom | |||||
Fri | 11/30 | San Francisco, CA | Warfield | |||||
Sat | 12/1 | San Diego, CA | SOMA | |||||
Mon | 12/3 | Anaheim, CA | House of Blues | |||||
Tue | 12/4 | Los Angeles, CA | The Wiltern | |||||
Wed | 12/5 | Phoenix, AZ | Marquee Theater | |||||
Thu | 12/6 | Las Vegas, NV | House of Blues | |||||
Sat | 12/8 | Salt Lake City, UT | In The Venue | |||||
Sun | 12/9 | Denver, CO | Fillmore | |||||
Tue | 12/11 | St. Louis, MO | Pageant | |||||
w/Metro Station | ||||||||
Wed | 12/12 | Louisville, KY | Headliner’s Music Hall | |||||
w/Motion City Soundtrack, Mae, Metro Station | ||||||||
Thu | 12/13 | Cincinnati, OH | Bogarts | |||||
Fri | 12/14 | Cleveland, OH | Agora Ballroom | |||||
Sat | 12/15 | Chicago, IL | House of Blues | |||||
Sun | 12/16 | Chicago, IL | House of Blues |
For ANBERLIN publicity, contact MSO:
Libby Henry 818-380-0400 ext. 224 lhenry@msopr.com
Kristine Ashton-Magnuson 818-380-0400 ext. 233 kashton@msopr.com
Chelsi Schriver (tour press) 818-380-0400 ext. 231 cschriver@msopr.com
Universal Republic Records contact:
Serena Gallagher 212-841-8201 serena.gallagher@umusic.com
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ANBERLIN: AS THE GROUP’s ‘CITIES’ ALBUM CONTINUES TO GARNER CRITICAL ACCLAIM, BAND RELEASES NEW B-SIDES COLLECTION ‘LOST SONGS’; NEW VIDEO FOR ”THE UNWINDING CABLE CAR” UP NOW ON MYSPACE; U.S. TOUR WITH MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK ARRIVES IN LOS ANGELES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4 AT THE WILTERN THEATER