Jacob Sahms
Cities are busy places, full of background noises and bustling business. They’re also full of people who fall in and out of relationships, live and die, disappoint and dream. And those of the same sorts of ideas that dominate Anberlin’s new album, Cities. Lead singer and songwriter, Stephen Christian, wrote songs over the course of their tour for Never Take Friendship Personal, providing him time to get what he wanted: “As far as lyrics go, I’m not the one who can throw together a song very quickly. It usually has to come from an emotional experience, whether it’s in my own life or the lives of those around me. I keep a journal on tour and the goal is to formulate ideas that I can use to build a song.” Having listened to the album, it’s clear that Christian had plenty of experiences traveling the world, and listening to his life speak back.
As ambient noise of the intro track moves quickly into the urgent noise of “Godspeed,” Anberlin questions whether you’re really living the life you want to live? Shouting out that “they lied when they said the good die young,” Stephen Christian wants to make us aware of the lives that pass us by in our busyness, as Anberlin wants to wake us up. The urgency of the guitars of Joseph Milligan, Deon Rexroat and Nathan Strayer does nothing to dispel the anxiety and tension of Christian’s words. They keep driving in “Adelaide” (avoid destructive relationships,) “A Whisper and a Clamor” (a hushed but emphatic complaint against those who don’t hear the words behind the music,) or the clever twists of the “Unwinding Cable Car.”
“Hello Alone” harder rock comes down into a sadness, a longing, that questions “are you out there?” and “are you still coming home?” With Christian’s background, one has to question whether that’s about a longing for an estranged relationship or a return by God to heal brokenness he’s experienced. Either way, the band knows that there’s more to life than being alive, and the multi-layered techno-beat of “Reclusion” presents their desire for something to hold onto. The band certainly has a fondness for the past (“Aleximythia”) as they desire to hold onto the past, and live in that previous moment. Still, they’re always hopeful-in-despair and pushing forward to the next moment.
With quiet stanzas and emphatic crescendo to the moment, “Dismantle.Repair” talks about the relationship the singer/songwriter has with another, once again, either a lover or with God Himself. Regardless of the ‘other,’ the words of the one who knows Christian cut through the layers of subterfuge and deceit, to the truth beneath.
With truth bared, the final ten minutes of the album, “Fin,” bears its claws and digs in: “Aren’t we all to you just near lost causes? Are we all to you just lost?” The despair seems to embrace and enfold the band, but the clarity of their frustration shows ‘what’s up’: “Billy, don’t you understand? Timothy stood as long as he could/You made his faith disappear/More like a magician/And less like a man of the cloth/We’re not questioning God/Just those he chose to carry on his cause.” There’s certain to be a story behind the song, but the pain shows that those who claimed Christ’s name are often the greatest cause of anti-Christianity with their lack of love.
Longing to make a difference, whether it’s to help others rise out of the despair or speak to the love they’ve found, Anberlin’s lyrics continue to grow into complexity as their musical talents rise as well. Having been introduced to their music with Blueprints, engaged by Friendship, I found myself eagerly awaiting Cities. Christian's lyrics and the band's sound did nothing to let me down-- and their passion is undeniable.
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