Crash
by
Decyfer Down This is a good album for anyone who likes Hard Rock with a little bit of acoustics. I think it is a cross between Kutless, Skillet, and Coldplay. After Decyfer Down’s near tragic accident, which left all...
New Surrender
by
Anberlin This new album from anberlin R-O-C-K-S. The best song on there is Feel Good Drag. If you like alternative music, you'll love this album. This is the major label debut for the Central Florida pop-rock stalwarts,...
Crash [Bonus itunes version] | Posted May-08-2009
This is a good album for anyone who likes Hard Rock with a little bit of acoustics. I think it is a cross between Kutless, Skillet, and Coldplay. After Decyfer Down’s near tragic accident, which left all four members fighting for their life, Crash almost didn’t made it to fruition. “After the accident, we all questioned what we were doing because that was just another factor in it being such a big sacrifice to be on the road,” guitarist Brandon Mills recalls, also citing the fact that the guys miss their families when they're gone. “When we posted a blog on our MySpace page explaining what happened, it was so encouraging to see a whole page full of thoughts and support from people all over the country--and other countries as well--plus people who told us how much our music meant to them. That really helped us see that we are meant to do this, and even though we still run into obstacles, we're a better band because of it.”
Even though Crash is a metaphor for Decyfer Down’s ability to rise above its hurdles, it’s also a call for anyone broken to bounce back from whatever bogs them down and may hang between where you are and where/what you hope to be. The band has also had a lead singer change from Caleb Oliver to TJ Harris, who was formally of Fighting Instinct. All that has been said on Caleb’s departure is that he is dealing with “personal things”. It is unknown if he will even return. Caleb focused more on a unique voice; TJ Harris focuses on an edgier type of vocal. Even though most fans will be downtrodden by the removal of Caleb, fans will most likely enjoy TJ Harris when Crash is released.
Crash consists of 10 original songs; including rock and ballad tracks. Produced by Paul Ebersold (3 Doors Down, Saliva, and Sister Hazel) the disc has quite a few noteworthy tracks and resonates within your mind long after you stop listening. Starting out the highly anticipated (and greatly delayed) album is the title track, “Crash”. A picture of how everything in our life builds up a sort of pressure in our life. You try to buy time, figure out what is causing it, and fix it. Though no matter what you do you know you’re going to crash, but you’re going to try until you find a way through it. “Desperate” examines how our past and present situation seems to haunt us constantly, but we desperately want and need God, “a love that stands true”, to change us. It is so easy to be drawn into an addiction; it quickly takes root, digging chains deep into us, and takes us into a deep desperation, states “Fading”, we can’t even see hope through the darkness surrounding us, and we call out to God to save us from what we are becoming. “Best I Can” is my absolute favorite song on the album, hit-you-right-where-you-are lyrics as well as a mellow-hammering sound, it tells how even though we can’t live a perfect life, we are trying the best we can. It even seems hard to see ourselves how God sees us, and we can barely hold onto hope, which keeps us going. But we are promised God won’t let us go (we are never alone). Through that promise we can know we are living the best we can (through God’s grace) no matter where we go.
Calls to run from your addiction, of truth, to scream, and ride away from your pain, resonate from “Ride With Me” . . . let out your pain, leave it all, and get away from your addiction. “Wasting Away” is a cry for something more, and a reminder that it’s not too late to change, and you’re not alone in your struggles. A great southern twang with a caustic hammering intertwines together for a perfect rhythm, in “Over My Head”. The song examines when you think you’re in over your head how you need to find a way out, pack up, and get out of there because the battle’s already been won by God.
Continuing with the southern twang, “Moving On” (my second favorite) says how we can move on from our past lives (not wallowing in them), pick up our pieces, and live with what we have done. Because God has forgotten our pasts, so can we, and maybe we can start seeing hope through the clouds of discouragement. “The Life” is a song about moving on to a better life, leaving all our imperfections behind us and surviving through God’s grace (this world is not our final home). Even through provoking, we aren’t going back to the old wasted life so we can someday get to Heaven.
A depiction of how short this life is, “Forever With You” is my third favorite, and tells that when we get to Heaven we will be forever made new, and it reminds us that God is never far away. “Forever With You” is also a cry to love what He loves, to see what He sees, and a heart that burns like a fire in me. “I want your light in my life/ I want my heart renewed/ here I am/ here I am/ here I am/ Forever with you.”
If you’re a returning fan or a new one, you’ll want to Crash on 5/5/09. They have a great deal on the CD up on their site now, a mere steal for a (signed) superb album.
Anberlin: New Surrender | Posted December-26-2008
This new album from anberlin R-O-C-K-S. The best song on there is Feel Good Drag. If you like alternative music, you'll love this album. This is the major label debut for the Central Florida pop-rock stalwarts, Anberlin. The new album features 13 tracks that further expand on Anberlin's signature sound. Stephen Christian's distinct vocals backed by Joseph Milligan and Christian McAlhaney's driving guitars and the rhythm section comprised of Deon Rexroat and Nathan Young on bass and drums respectively is the foundation for the band's success.
New Surrender, produced by Neal Avron (Fall Out Boy, Yellowcard, New Found Glory), demonstrates the band's natural progression as musicians as well as solidifying their place as some of music's most creative songwriters. With all out rockers like "Feel Good Drag" and "Blame Me! Blame Me!" to the introspective "Still Counting Backwards," Anberlin have created a record that is sure to propel the band to the next level. Universal Republic signed the band off of the success of their highly lauded breakthrough indie pop scorcher, Cities. The record debuted on Billboard's Top Albums chart in February 2007 at #19, and passed the coveted 100,000 indie-sales milestone fueled by their riveting hit single "Godspeed."
It has been Anberlin's emotive pop/rock chemistry that has excited fans and critics ever since their Polk County, FLA launch six years ago, rising through the indie ranks with a magnetic collection of releases on Tooth & Nail Records, including their memorable 2003 debut Blueprints For The Blackmarket. Their 2005 release, Never Take Friendship Personal, saw them gain even more indie traction, (the band has logged combined album sales of more than 400,000 albums) with the single "Paperthin Hymn" peaking in the Top 40 of the Modern Rock Radio chart. Their touring, coupled with a loyal myspace following, cemented their reputation as one of the bands to watch in 2007. Anberlin delivered on that with the celebrated Cities. Cited by many critics as indispensable to the modern rock scene, rock forecasters have bookmarked their upcoming album New Surrender as one of the truly viable indie-to-major success stories ready to blow in 2008.
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