Anberlin feat. Matty Mullins Re-Record Classic Album • Page 2

Take any song you like, any at all, and go into the EQ or dial on your stereo (cause we old), and turn the treble **all** the way up, max it out. That’s what I hear. That’s what every song he’s singing sounds like to me. Now take that, and then I think about what, let’s pick the final song on this album, means to the lyricist. And what he specifically can convey in how he sings it. And it is actually painful to listen to. It hurts to hear on multiple levels.

 

This was a genuinely helpful response. I came in ready to agree that the production (or overproduction) of Nevertake loses the particular dynamism and vulnerability of Stephen’ renditions. What I hadn’t fully appreciated prior to hearing you out is the degree to which the flattened polish of Matty’s takes disconnects some from the lyrical messaging. Pair that with the auditory sensitivity, and I now actually get the degree to which you’re turned off, even if I’m not quite there myself. Thanks for bridging the gap.

 

Jason, I think this is truly spot on. I first got into Anberlin with Cities, thanks to this site, and it was Stephen's personality, his voice, the depth to everything he sang, that made me love the band. These songs have no soul to them at all.

 

Anberlin's true form, is my favorite band of all time. The #1 differentiator with Anberlin was ALWAYS Stephens voice. No one sounds like Stephen, especially in this genre. Yes, the musicians are rock solid (I love Nate's drumming style), but there is a reason why hardly anyone tries to cover Anberlin; Many of the songs are nearly impossible to sing, therefore any effort looks like a bad cover band.

In the instance of Anberlin 2.0, this just sounds like a good cover band. I feel nothing when listening, but if I was at a Bar with my friends, and this was playing, I would comment on it sounding "good".

That is really all I got.

 

Well said, I agree. They now just sound like any other band in the genre and lack the unique edge.

 

This reminds me of when Cody joined Real Friends. That was the general consensus for a while, then after a couple albums, they actually found a new sound. I'm hoping the same is true for Anberlin.

 

I appreciate the effort to differentiate the three versions of Feel Good Drag in their naming, but the two older versions both being top 5 songs on Anberlin's Spotify page suggest it's not going to work.

This was fine. I'm sure it was fun for them to make and they must have some data that suggests this is a sound business move, but I'm probably set with my one listen. A nice reminder of how well-written so many of these songs are.