Anberlin
Encyclopedia
Anberlin is an American rock band formed in Winter Haven, Florida
in 2002. Since the beginning of 2007, the band has consisted of lead vocalist Stephen Christian
, guitarists Joseph Milligan
and Christian McAlhaney
, bassist Deon Rexroat
, and drummer Nathan Young.
Members of Anberlin originally formed a band under the name SaGoh 24/7 in 1998, releasing two studio album
s before disbanding, with the members having a change in musical direction and name. Anberlin was formed in 2002; within a year of forming, they had signed with semi-independent record label Tooth & Nail Records
and released their debut album, Blueprints for the Black Market
. In 2005, the band released their second album, Never Take Friendship Personal
, selling in excess of 150,000 copies. The band continued its rise to prominence while enjoying a loyal MySpace
following and averaging well over 200 live shows per year. The band's third album, Cities
, was released in 2007, and became their first album to reach the top 20 of the Billboard 200
, selling 34,000 copies in its debut week.
After three studio albums and five years with Tooth & Nail Records, Anberlin announced their signing with major label Universal Republic
in August 2007. The band's first album on the major label was released in 2008, titled New Surrender
. The album peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200, with the first single, "Feel Good Drag", claiming No. 1 on the Alternative Songs chart, after 29 weeks in the chart. Prior to the release of their fifth studio album, Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place
, Anberlin has sold over 700,000 albums.
met bassist Deon Rexroat
while they were both in high school, and they formed a punk band called SaGoh 24/7. Drummer Sean Hutson and guitarist Joseph Milligan
joined the group as well. The band released two albums, Servants After God's Own Heart (1999), and Then I Corrupt Youth (2001), both under Rescue Records. After the albums sold only 1,300 units, Hutson left the band to start a family, and Nathan Young was brought in as a replacement.
Christian, Milligan and Rexroat began working on a side project, marking the beginning of the end for SaGoh 24/7. The side project's sound transformed after a suggestion from Milligan to develop more of a rock sound for Anberlin. They used money left over from shows SaGoh had performed and teamed up with producer Matt Goldman to record five demos. The demos that were then posted on PureVolume
(which was mp3.com at the time). On the advice of friends, including Chad Johnson, and Timmy McTague from Underoath
, the band signed with Tooth & Nail Records
.
Out of the five demos Anberlin recorded with Matt Goldman, three were eventually chosen to be reworked for the band's debut album, the lead single "Readyfuels
", "Driving" (later renamed "Autobahn") and "Foreign Language". Another song, "Embrace the Dead", was also recorded as a demo track and is often mistaken as an Anberlin song, however, the song didn't make it onto the band's debut album as it didn't constitute the stylistic direction the band wanted to head in.
After hearing demos from the band Acceptance
, Anberlin chose to record their debut album with the same producer, Aaron Sprinkle, creating a relationship that would last the entire duration of their time with Tooth & Nail Records. Barely a year after their formation, their first album as a new band was entitled Blueprints for the Black Market
(2003). It failed to chart, but spurred on by their debut single, "Readyfuels
", the album sold over 60,000 units. They toured steadily with other bands in their label.
Rhythm guitarist Joey Bruce was eventually ejected from the band. According to Christian, he was "all about sex and drugs", and was going in a different direction than the rest of the band. After several failed replacements, Nathan Strayer from The Mosaic took over rhythm guitar duties.
Anberlin released their follow-up to Blueprints, Never Take Friendship Personal
, in early 2005, again produced by Aaron Sprinkle. Charting at No. 144 on the Billboard 200
, the album brought the band closer to the mainstream. NTFP was generally more well received by critics than Blueprints for the Black Market. Before its release, the band promoted the album by releasing a track per week on their PureVolume
and MySpace
website accounts, as well as on their own website. Two singles were released from the album: "A Day Late" and "Paperthin Hymn". Both were reasonably successful on alternative rock radio, with the latter peaking at the No. 38 position on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Anberlin participated in a number of compilations during this time, recording covers of Bob Dylan
's "Like a Rolling Stone
", Depeche Mode
's "Enjoy the Silence
," and the song "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
".
Anberlin's third album produced by Aaron Sprinkle was released in early 2007 under the title Cities
. It sold 34,000 copies in its first week of release, debuted at No. 19 on the Billboard 200 chart, and, like their previous album, received fairly positive reviews from critics. Before the release of Cities, the band released Godspeed EP
exclusively on iTunes
in late 2006 to give a preview to the new album. In support of the album, Anberlin held their first headlining tour, supported by Bayside
, Meg & Dia
and Jonezetta
.
In an interview about the album, Christian commented that the lyrics throughout the band's discography are progressively becoming more mature. "The first CD (Blueprints for the Black Market) was childish in the manner that it was Man vs. World in the lyrics. The second (Never Take Friendship Personal) was Man Vs. Man. Cities is more adult in the manner that it's Man Vs. Self. Cities was the most anticipated album on Jesus Freak Hideout
's Most Anticipated Albums of 2007.
Three to four weeks before the release of Cities, it was announced that guitarist Nathan Strayer amicably left the band to go back to The Mosaic and that Christian McAlhaney
, formerly of the band Acceptance
, would take over as the new guitarist.
A compilation album
of unreleased material, called Lost Songs
, was released on 20 November 2007. It features B-sides
, demos
, covers
, and acoustic
versions of their previous songs as well as other tracks recorded at AOL Sessions.
The band signed to Universal Republic
on 16 August 2007, and soon after began to write material for their major-label debut, entitled New Surrender
, which was released on 30 September 2008. This is the band's first album to not be distributed through Tooth & Nail Records
or produced by Aaron Sprinkle. The first song to be heard from the new album was tentatively titled "Bittersweet Memory" during its initial live performances; it was later renamed to "Breaking" with an acoustic remix of the song included on USB wristbands sold exclusively during the 2008 Warped Tour. On 11 July 2008, the band showcased a second new song called "Disappear" on their MySpace
profile. The first actual single from the album was the re-recorded "Feel Good Drag" which was set to go to radio on 18 August - eventually being released on 26 August.
The band booked eight weeks of recording sessions with noted producer Neal Avron (New Found Glory
, Yellowcard
, Fall Out Boy
) in early February 2008. Stephen Christian stated in an interview, "We're very excited about working with Neal; I think our fans are going to be pleased when they hear the final result." Christian also discussed the difficulties in writing this record. "When you try to write 29 songs lyrically you find yourself topically working in circles; I only go through so much in one year, but needlessly I have dedicated myself to begin searching books, art, and friends for new directions." During the recording process, the band set up a live webcam in the studio so fans could watch them record the album via the band's MySpace profile. New Surrender was placed at the No. 2 spot on Jesus Freak Hideout
's 25 Most Anticipated Albums of 2008.
In the week of its release, the album sold 36,000 units, entering the Billboard
200 chart at No. 13. It also placed at No. 5 on the Top Current Rock chart, according to a Universal Republic press release. In support of the album, the band embarked on a fall headlining U.S. tour alongside Scary Kids Scaring Kids
, Straylight Run
, and There For Tomorrow
. Kyle Flynn, formerly of the band Acceptance, joined the band while on tour doing keys, loops, acoustic guitar, and background vocals. The band then traveled to the United Kingdom where they supported Elliot Minor
and played a handful of headlining shows with Furthest Drive Home
and Data.Select.Party.
Anberlin went into the studio to record several tracks, including a cover of the New Order
song "True Faith", which was made available online. The band also recorded a cover of the Danzig
song "Mother
", which they performed during an interview with Billboard
. After supporting Taking Back Sunday
throughout May and June 2009, the band planned to start writing the follow-up to New Surrender in the summer, but the release date is undetermined, as the band would give the new material the time and effort that it needs. They also undertook an Australian tour in August, alongside The Academy Is...
. A b-side from New Surrender, "A Perfect Tourniquet", was be released on the soundtrack
for the TV show 90210
. The cover of New Order's "True Faith" was released to radio airplay on November 17, the same day as the Tooth & Nail release Blueprints for City Friendships: The Anberlin Anthology. Blueprints... is a 33 song, 3-CD set including all the songs from their Tooth & Nail studio albums.
account in December 2009, that his choice for an album name was "a go" but did not reveal the name.
The band entered Blackbird Studios, Nashville, to begin recording the album in March 2010. It was announced on March 3 that the band would be working with Grammy Award winning producer, Brendan O'Brien
. The tracking of the album was completed on April 9, with mixing commencing on April 13, 2010. In an April 2010 interview with MyMag, Christian stated that the album's release date is "looking like late July or early August" 2010. However, in a May 2010 interview with Spin Magazine, McAlhaney stated that the album would be released in September 2010.
In early June 2010, the album's release date was confirmed to be September 21, 2010. The band also began exposing their new music, with videos of live performances of the album's songs appearing online. A press release revealed on June 17 that Anberlin's fifth studio album would be titled Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place
, taking its title from a line in Dylan Thomas
’ "Poem on His Birthday". Along with the disclosure of a track listing, the press release also announced the album's lead single, "Impossible", which went to radio play on July 12, 2010.
When asked about the possible impact of the new album, Stephen replied 'I feel like we're on the brink of something... either world domination or destruction, but either way we're on the brink'.
Anberlin supported 30 Seconds to Mars
on their Closer to the Edge Tour
with CB7 during April and May 2011.
In a recent interview with Common Revolt, Stephen Christian stated that the band has begun work on their next album. A few songs have been written included one with the working title 'Control', and a song influenced by the events in Egypt.
Anberlin will be touring with the bands Switchfoot
and Atomic Tom
in the fall of 2011.
Anberlin are planning to record their sixth album in February 2012, with a tentative release date in June.
." Christian thought that "and Berlin" would be an appropriate name for a band, and so when the band was looking for a name Christian suggested "And Berlin," which was then modified to "Anberlin."
Christian has since retracted those comments admitting that when the band first started, in interviews they "would take turn making stories about how it came to be" as a joke, as he believed the actual origin of the band name wasn't interesting enough. Christian said there was a story about how his grandfather had "saved a little girl from a World War II
bombing... her name was Anberlin" and that they had hit a dog, which had the name Anberlin, with the stories getting more diverse, it was decided they reveal the true origin. He has said the "real" name came from the Radiohead
song "Everything in Its Right Place
", stating that "There are several stories that have circulated on the internet, but the actual story is when I was in college my favorite band was Radiohead; on one of their songs off the record Kid A
there is a background noise on the song "Everything in Its Right Place" (about 2 minutes 31 seconds into the song). While Thom (Yorke)
is singing try to say I always thought the background noise sounded like Anberlin, I always thought that Anberlin would have been a great band name and well...it was/is."
band. However, Stephen Christian stated in an interview that their faith is more complicated than a simple label: "I think we're categorized like that a lot because we're on Tooth & Nail Records
, which, years ago, was known as a Christian label and never lost that reputation. I don't care who listens to our records. If it helps people in whatever circumstances they're in, that's amazing, but I definitely don't classify us as a Christian band." Elsewhere, Christian has remarked, "[My faith] affects every single aspect of my life, but I'm not a preacher, I'm an entertainer."
Despite these statements and others of the like, multiple sources list the band as part of the Christian rock genre, and some Anberlin song lyrics do contain Christian references. Furthermore, the band appears at Christian music festivals such as Parachute Music Festival
and Cornerstone Festival
, and their songs have been included on Christian rock compilation CDs and DVDs. They are also played on the Gospel Music Channel
.
Anberlin has also been repeatedly featured in Christian rock magazine HM (Hard Music, which was originally the fanzine Heaven's Metal). Christian submitted a letter to the magazine, criticizing the more overtly religious Christian punk
band the Knights of the New Crusade for a promotional image that represented a "black mark on the face of Christianity".
Christian has also said in an interview with Lightforce radio how the band tries to "step out of the bubble" and referred to themselves as being part of Christian music. He discussed in detail what Christians should do in their lives: love and embrace others as Jesus
would as well as show God's grace to others. He mentioned as well how the band Fall Out Boy
said in an interview that they did not really know much about Jesus until Anberlin toured with them.
In an interview with Smartpunk, drummer Nathan Young commented, "The thing is, some bands that are trying to get out of the Christian market, they get bummed out by questions about it. I don’t really mind it, because I’m a Christian, and I’m okay talking about it. With the whole term 'Christian Band,' I don’t understand how a band can be Christian. We get the question, 'Is Anberlin a Christian band?' and it’s like, yeah, Anberlin is — as humans".
Current
Former
side project, Anchor & Braille
. The project was originally a joint venture with Aaron Marsh
of the band Copeland
; however, Marsh will reportedly not feature on the project's debut album, entitled Felt
, although he did produce it. The project first yielded a 7" vinyl, and Felt was released on August 4, 2009.
and social issues. The band's fall 2010 tour included Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee, which raises money to help impoverished communities. The band has also had a long association with To Write Love on Her Arms
; the organization was involved in the Cities tour, and has released a T-shirt featuring a photograph taken by Young.
Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
in 2002. Since the beginning of 2007, the band has consisted of lead vocalist Stephen Christian
Stephen Christian
Stephen Christian is the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band Anberlin and his side-project Anchor & Braille. He and his bandmates started Anberlin in 2002, after the demise of their previous group, known as SaGoh 24/7...
, guitarists Joseph Milligan
Joseph milligan
Joseph Milligan is a member of the American rock band Anberlin. He is the group's lead guitarist, one of the lead songwriters and one its founding members. Milligan wrote most of the music and recorded all of the guitar tracks for Anberlin's first three albums until Christian McAlhaney joined the...
and Christian McAlhaney
Christian McAlhaney
Christian Edwin McAlhaney is an American musician, and currently one of the two guitarists for the alternative rock band Anberlin. He replaced Nathan Strayer who left the band in early 2007, right before the release of the band's third album, Cities. Christian was formerly a guitarist for the band...
, bassist Deon Rexroat
Deon Rexroat
Deon Rexroat is the bassist for the alternative rock band Anberlin. Originally playing for the short-lived punk band SaGoh 24/7, the band dissolved, and most of its members went on to form Anberlin. He is one of the band's founding members...
, and drummer Nathan Young.
Members of Anberlin originally formed a band under the name SaGoh 24/7 in 1998, releasing two studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
s before disbanding, with the members having a change in musical direction and name. Anberlin was formed in 2002; within a year of forming, they had signed with semi-independent record label Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
and released their debut album, Blueprints for the Black Market
Blueprints for the Black Market
Blueprints for the Black Market is the first album released by the band Anberlin. It was released barely a year after the band formed, and was the only album that was released with guitarist Joey Bruce in the band line-up. Blueprints had two singles, "Readyfuels", for which a music video was...
. In 2005, the band released their second album, Never Take Friendship Personal
Never Take Friendship Personal
-Personnel:*Stephen Christian – vocals, guitar*Deon Rexroat – bass*Joseph Milligan – lead guitar*Nathan Strayer – guitar*Nathan Young – drums*Aaron Sprinkle – production, engineering*JR McNeely – mixing*Troy Glessner – mastering...
, selling in excess of 150,000 copies. The band continued its rise to prominence while enjoying a loyal MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
following and averaging well over 200 live shows per year. The band's third album, Cities
Cities (Anberlin album)
- Special-edition bonus tracks :These tracks are also included in the compilation album "Lost Songs"* Special Edition version includes a DVD behind the scenes of the making of Cities.The album released in Japan had an extra track titled "The Haunting."...
, was released in 2007, and became their first album to reach the top 20 of the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, selling 34,000 copies in its debut week.
After three studio albums and five years with Tooth & Nail Records, Anberlin announced their signing with major label Universal Republic
Universal Republic
Universal Republic Records is a record label, owned by Universal Music Group. It is based on the now-defunct Republic Records label founded by brothers Monte and Avery Lipman...
in August 2007. The band's first album on the major label was released in 2008, titled New Surrender
New Surrender
The actual recording and production took place at multiple studios in Hollywood, California, under Avron throughout March and early April 2008. The first recording took place at Swing House Recordings in West Hollywood, followed by NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, where they completed at...
. The album peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200, with the first single, "Feel Good Drag", claiming No. 1 on the Alternative Songs chart, after 29 weeks in the chart. Prior to the release of their fifth studio album, Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place
Dark is the Way, Light is a Place
-Personnel:*Stephen Christian – Vocals,*Joseph Milligan – Guitar, keyboards, programming*Nathan Young – Drums*Christian McAlhaney – Guitar, keyboards, programming*Deon Rexroat – Bass...
, Anberlin has sold over 700,000 albums.
SaGoh 24/7 and the origins of Anberlin (1998–2002)
Lead singer Stephen ChristianStephen Christian
Stephen Christian is the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band Anberlin and his side-project Anchor & Braille. He and his bandmates started Anberlin in 2002, after the demise of their previous group, known as SaGoh 24/7...
met bassist Deon Rexroat
Deon Rexroat
Deon Rexroat is the bassist for the alternative rock band Anberlin. Originally playing for the short-lived punk band SaGoh 24/7, the band dissolved, and most of its members went on to form Anberlin. He is one of the band's founding members...
while they were both in high school, and they formed a punk band called SaGoh 24/7. Drummer Sean Hutson and guitarist Joseph Milligan
Joseph milligan
Joseph Milligan is a member of the American rock band Anberlin. He is the group's lead guitarist, one of the lead songwriters and one its founding members. Milligan wrote most of the music and recorded all of the guitar tracks for Anberlin's first three albums until Christian McAlhaney joined the...
joined the group as well. The band released two albums, Servants After God's Own Heart (1999), and Then I Corrupt Youth (2001), both under Rescue Records. After the albums sold only 1,300 units, Hutson left the band to start a family, and Nathan Young was brought in as a replacement.
Christian, Milligan and Rexroat began working on a side project, marking the beginning of the end for SaGoh 24/7. The side project's sound transformed after a suggestion from Milligan to develop more of a rock sound for Anberlin. They used money left over from shows SaGoh had performed and teamed up with producer Matt Goldman to record five demos. The demos that were then posted on PureVolume
PureVolume
PureVolume was the first independently run website of its type, allowing for the upload and stream of music files. It was created in 2003 by Jennifer Welch , in conjunction with the Unborn Media team; Brett Woitunski, Nate Hudson, and Mitchell Pavao; all from the University of...
(which was mp3.com at the time). On the advice of friends, including Chad Johnson, and Timmy McTague from Underoath
Underoath
Underoath is an American Christian metalcore band from Tampa, Florida. Founded by Dallas Taylor and Luke Morton on November 30, 1997 in Ocala, Florida, subsequently its additional members were from Tampa, Florida...
, the band signed with Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
.
First two albums (2002–2005)
Readyfuels
"Readyfuels" is the first single from alternative rock band Anberlin from their debut album Blueprints for the Black Market. The song is the opening track of the album as well as one of their better known singles. Readyfuels helped to prove that Anberlin can create a catchy riff as well as good...
", "Driving" (later renamed "Autobahn") and "Foreign Language". Another song, "Embrace the Dead", was also recorded as a demo track and is often mistaken as an Anberlin song, however, the song didn't make it onto the band's debut album as it didn't constitute the stylistic direction the band wanted to head in.
After hearing demos from the band Acceptance
Acceptance (band)
Acceptance was an alternative rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1998. They released their first EP, Lost for Words, in 2000, followed by Black Lines to Battlefields in 2003...
, Anberlin chose to record their debut album with the same producer, Aaron Sprinkle, creating a relationship that would last the entire duration of their time with Tooth & Nail Records. Barely a year after their formation, their first album as a new band was entitled Blueprints for the Black Market
Blueprints for the Black Market
Blueprints for the Black Market is the first album released by the band Anberlin. It was released barely a year after the band formed, and was the only album that was released with guitarist Joey Bruce in the band line-up. Blueprints had two singles, "Readyfuels", for which a music video was...
(2003). It failed to chart, but spurred on by their debut single, "Readyfuels
Readyfuels
"Readyfuels" is the first single from alternative rock band Anberlin from their debut album Blueprints for the Black Market. The song is the opening track of the album as well as one of their better known singles. Readyfuels helped to prove that Anberlin can create a catchy riff as well as good...
", the album sold over 60,000 units. They toured steadily with other bands in their label.
Rhythm guitarist Joey Bruce was eventually ejected from the band. According to Christian, he was "all about sex and drugs", and was going in a different direction than the rest of the band. After several failed replacements, Nathan Strayer from The Mosaic took over rhythm guitar duties.
Anberlin released their follow-up to Blueprints, Never Take Friendship Personal
Never Take Friendship Personal
-Personnel:*Stephen Christian – vocals, guitar*Deon Rexroat – bass*Joseph Milligan – lead guitar*Nathan Strayer – guitar*Nathan Young – drums*Aaron Sprinkle – production, engineering*JR McNeely – mixing*Troy Glessner – mastering...
, in early 2005, again produced by Aaron Sprinkle. Charting at No. 144 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, the album brought the band closer to the mainstream. NTFP was generally more well received by critics than Blueprints for the Black Market. Before its release, the band promoted the album by releasing a track per week on their PureVolume
PureVolume
PureVolume was the first independently run website of its type, allowing for the upload and stream of music files. It was created in 2003 by Jennifer Welch , in conjunction with the Unborn Media team; Brett Woitunski, Nate Hudson, and Mitchell Pavao; all from the University of...
and MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
website accounts, as well as on their own website. Two singles were released from the album: "A Day Late" and "Paperthin Hymn". Both were reasonably successful on alternative rock radio, with the latter peaking at the No. 38 position on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Anberlin participated in a number of compilations during this time, recording covers of Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
's "Like a Rolling Stone
Like a Rolling Stone
"Like a Rolling Stone" is a 1965 song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Its confrontational lyrics originate in an extended piece of verse Dylan wrote in June 1965, when he returned exhausted from a grueling tour of England...
", Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
's "Enjoy the Silence
Enjoy the Silence
"Enjoy the Silence" is Depeche Mode's twenty-fourth UK single, released on 16 January 1990, and the second single from the then upcoming album Violator....
," and the song "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
"Christmas " is a Christmas holiday song originally sung by Darlene Love and included on the 1963 Christmas compilation album, A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records. The song was written by Phil Spector, along with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, with the intentions of being sung by Ronnie...
".
Cities and Lost Songs (2005–2007)
Cities (Anberlin album)
- Special-edition bonus tracks :These tracks are also included in the compilation album "Lost Songs"* Special Edition version includes a DVD behind the scenes of the making of Cities.The album released in Japan had an extra track titled "The Haunting."...
. It sold 34,000 copies in its first week of release, debuted at No. 19 on the Billboard 200 chart, and, like their previous album, received fairly positive reviews from critics. Before the release of Cities, the band released Godspeed EP
Godspeed EP
Godspeed EP is the first EP by the band Anberlin. It was December 26, 2006, though it was originally proposed to be released two days later. Included in the EP are two tracks...
exclusively on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
in late 2006 to give a preview to the new album. In support of the album, Anberlin held their first headlining tour, supported by Bayside
Bayside (band)
Bayside is an American punk rock band from Queens which formed in the winter of 2000. The band has released five full length albums since signing to Victory Records...
, Meg & Dia
Meg & Dia
Meg & Dia is an American rock band formed in 2004. It was founded by sisters Meg and Dia Frampton, and is now a five-piece act with additional members Nicholas Price, Jonathan Snyder and Carlo Gimenez....
and Jonezetta
Jonezetta
Jonezetta was an indie band from Clinton, Mississippi, which has released an EP and two full-length albums since their formation in 2002.- History :Jonezetta formed when its four members were still in high school...
.
In an interview about the album, Christian commented that the lyrics throughout the band's discography are progressively becoming more mature. "The first CD (Blueprints for the Black Market) was childish in the manner that it was Man vs. World in the lyrics. The second (Never Take Friendship Personal) was Man Vs. Man. Cities is more adult in the manner that it's Man Vs. Self. Cities was the most anticipated album on Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout is a Christian music website. The website specializes in reviewing, previewing, and selling Christian albums. The website is known for its album reviews, independent music, artist interviews, concert dates and ministry through devotionals and prayer...
's Most Anticipated Albums of 2007.
Three to four weeks before the release of Cities, it was announced that guitarist Nathan Strayer amicably left the band to go back to The Mosaic and that Christian McAlhaney
Christian McAlhaney
Christian Edwin McAlhaney is an American musician, and currently one of the two guitarists for the alternative rock band Anberlin. He replaced Nathan Strayer who left the band in early 2007, right before the release of the band's third album, Cities. Christian was formerly a guitarist for the band...
, formerly of the band Acceptance
Acceptance (band)
Acceptance was an alternative rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1998. They released their first EP, Lost for Words, in 2000, followed by Black Lines to Battlefields in 2003...
, would take over as the new guitarist.
A compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
of unreleased material, called Lost Songs
Lost Songs (Anberlin album)
Lost Songs is a compilation album from the alternative rock band Anberlin, released on November 20, 2007. It is a collection of covers, unreleased songs from previous album sessions and acoustic versions...
, was released on 20 November 2007. It features B-sides
B-Sides
B-Sides is an iTunes-exclusive album from the Coventry Trio The Enemy, consisting of ten songs that were B-sides to the single releases from their debut album We'll Live and Die in These Towns.-Track list:#Fear Killed the Youth of Our Nation...
, demos
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
, covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
, and acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
versions of their previous songs as well as other tracks recorded at AOL Sessions.
Universal Republic signing and New Surrender; Blueprints... (2007–2009)
Universal Republic
Universal Republic Records is a record label, owned by Universal Music Group. It is based on the now-defunct Republic Records label founded by brothers Monte and Avery Lipman...
on 16 August 2007, and soon after began to write material for their major-label debut, entitled New Surrender
New Surrender
The actual recording and production took place at multiple studios in Hollywood, California, under Avron throughout March and early April 2008. The first recording took place at Swing House Recordings in West Hollywood, followed by NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, where they completed at...
, which was released on 30 September 2008. This is the band's first album to not be distributed through Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
or produced by Aaron Sprinkle. The first song to be heard from the new album was tentatively titled "Bittersweet Memory" during its initial live performances; it was later renamed to "Breaking" with an acoustic remix of the song included on USB wristbands sold exclusively during the 2008 Warped Tour. On 11 July 2008, the band showcased a second new song called "Disappear" on their MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
profile. The first actual single from the album was the re-recorded "Feel Good Drag" which was set to go to radio on 18 August - eventually being released on 26 August.
The band booked eight weeks of recording sessions with noted producer Neal Avron (New Found Glory
New Found Glory
New Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino...
, Yellowcard
Yellowcard
Yellowcard is an American pop punk/alternative rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997, and based in Los Angeles, California since 2000. Their music features the use of a violin, unusual for the genre...
, Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
) in early February 2008. Stephen Christian stated in an interview, "We're very excited about working with Neal; I think our fans are going to be pleased when they hear the final result." Christian also discussed the difficulties in writing this record. "When you try to write 29 songs lyrically you find yourself topically working in circles; I only go through so much in one year, but needlessly I have dedicated myself to begin searching books, art, and friends for new directions." During the recording process, the band set up a live webcam in the studio so fans could watch them record the album via the band's MySpace profile. New Surrender was placed at the No. 2 spot on Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout is a Christian music website. The website specializes in reviewing, previewing, and selling Christian albums. The website is known for its album reviews, independent music, artist interviews, concert dates and ministry through devotionals and prayer...
's 25 Most Anticipated Albums of 2008.
In the week of its release, the album sold 36,000 units, entering the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
200 chart at No. 13. It also placed at No. 5 on the Top Current Rock chart, according to a Universal Republic press release. In support of the album, the band embarked on a fall headlining U.S. tour alongside Scary Kids Scaring Kids
Scary Kids Scaring Kids
Scary Kids Scaring Kids was an American post-hardcore band formed in Gilbert, Arizona in 2002. The band's name comes from the Cap'n Jazz song of the same name...
, Straylight Run
Straylight Run
Straylight Run was an indie rock band based in Baldwin, New York. Two of the members, Nolan and Cooper, had been members of Taking Back Sunday and have now rejoined that band. Their final releases are the EPs About Time and Un Mas Dos, preceded by the full-length album entitled The Needles The...
, and There For Tomorrow
There For Tomorrow
There for Tomorrow is a band formed in Orlando, Florida in 2003. The group is influenced by bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Blink-182, Third Eye Blind, and The Hives.-Early years :...
. Kyle Flynn, formerly of the band Acceptance, joined the band while on tour doing keys, loops, acoustic guitar, and background vocals. The band then traveled to the United Kingdom where they supported Elliot Minor
Elliot Minor
Elliot Minor are a classically influenced rock band from York, England. The group consists of Alex Davies , Ed Minton , Dan Hetherton and Ed Hetherton .-History and formation: 2000-2006 :...
and played a handful of headlining shows with Furthest Drive Home
Furthest Drive Home
Furthest Drive Home were a three piece pop and rock band from Farnham, England, which formed in 2003. The band released their EP Lost in Genre in the summer of 2005, before playing the side stage at Brighton's "Taste of Chaos" festival, alongside The Used, Killswitch Engage and Funeral For A Friend...
and Data.Select.Party.
Anberlin went into the studio to record several tracks, including a cover of the New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
song "True Faith", which was made available online. The band also recorded a cover of the Danzig
Danzig (band)
Danzig is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1987 in Lodi, New Jersey. The band serves as a musical outlet for the singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig. Danzig can be seen as the third stage in Glenn Danzig's musical career, preceded by the horror punk bands The Misfits and Samhain...
song "Mother
Mother (Danzig song)
"Mother" is a song by Danzig that first appeared on their 1988 debut album, Danzig.Thematically, the song is a rhetorical challenge to parents, primarily inspired by Tipper Gore who, along with the Parents Music Resource Center, introduced the Parental Advisory warning placed on albums that contain...
", which they performed during an interview with Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
. After supporting Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday is a rock band from Long Island, NY, formed in 1999 by guitarist Eddie Reyes. Current members of the band are Adam Lazzara , John Nolan , Eddie Reyes , Shaun Cooper and Mark O'Connell ....
throughout May and June 2009, the band planned to start writing the follow-up to New Surrender in the summer, but the release date is undetermined, as the band would give the new material the time and effort that it needs. They also undertook an Australian tour in August, alongside The Academy Is...
The Academy Is...
The Academy Is... was an American rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 2003. Before dispersing, they were signed by the Decaydance imprint of the Fueled by Ramen label. They were originally known as "The Academy", but added the "Is..." in 2004 to avoid legal complications with other...
. A b-side from New Surrender, "A Perfect Tourniquet", was be released on the soundtrack
Soundtrack 90210
-Soundtrack songs used in 90210 episodes:...
for the TV show 90210
90210 (TV series)
90210 is an American teen drama television series developed by Rob Thomas, Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, and the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise created by Darren Star. 90210 is the first series produced by CBS Productions under the company's re-launch, but is now produced by CBS...
. The cover of New Order's "True Faith" was released to radio airplay on November 17, the same day as the Tooth & Nail release Blueprints for City Friendships: The Anberlin Anthology. Blueprints... is a 33 song, 3-CD set including all the songs from their Tooth & Nail studio albums.
Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place (2010–present)
In an interview with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in December 2009, it was revealed by lead singer Stephen Christian that the band were tentatively due to enter the studio in the beginning of 2010, with a release probable later in the year. He said "it looks like we are going to go to the studio in January, February or March, right around that time". Drummer Nathan Young stated that the album would be "less poppy" and "darker". Christian posted on his TwitterTwitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
account in December 2009, that his choice for an album name was "a go" but did not reveal the name.
The band entered Blackbird Studios, Nashville, to begin recording the album in March 2010. It was announced on March 3 that the band would be working with Grammy Award winning producer, Brendan O'Brien
Brendan O'Brien (music producer)
Brendan O’Brien is a record producer, mixer, engineer, and musician.At age 14, O'Brien played guitar for the Atlanta-based cover band Pranks. In the late 1970s, he moved on to writing, performing and recording with the Samurai Catfish band...
. The tracking of the album was completed on April 9, with mixing commencing on April 13, 2010. In an April 2010 interview with MyMag, Christian stated that the album's release date is "looking like late July or early August" 2010. However, in a May 2010 interview with Spin Magazine, McAlhaney stated that the album would be released in September 2010.
In early June 2010, the album's release date was confirmed to be September 21, 2010. The band also began exposing their new music, with videos of live performances of the album's songs appearing online. A press release revealed on June 17 that Anberlin's fifth studio album would be titled Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place
Dark is the Way, Light is a Place
-Personnel:*Stephen Christian – Vocals,*Joseph Milligan – Guitar, keyboards, programming*Nathan Young – Drums*Christian McAlhaney – Guitar, keyboards, programming*Deon Rexroat – Bass...
, taking its title from a line in Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
’ "Poem on His Birthday". Along with the disclosure of a track listing, the press release also announced the album's lead single, "Impossible", which went to radio play on July 12, 2010.
When asked about the possible impact of the new album, Stephen replied 'I feel like we're on the brink of something... either world domination or destruction, but either way we're on the brink'.
Anberlin supported 30 Seconds to Mars
30 Seconds to Mars
30 Seconds to Mars is an American rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1998. Since 2007, the band has consisted of actor Jared Leto , Shannon Leto and Tomo Miličević...
on their Closer to the Edge Tour
Into The Wild Tour
The Into the Wild Tour is the second worldwide concert tour by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars in support of the band's third studio album, This Is War...
with CB7 during April and May 2011.
In a recent interview with Common Revolt, Stephen Christian stated that the band has begun work on their next album. A few songs have been written included one with the working title 'Control', and a song influenced by the events in Egypt.
Anberlin will be touring with the bands Switchfoot
Switchfoot
Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman , Tim Foreman , Chad Butler , Jerome Fontamillas , and Drew Shirley .After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream...
and Atomic Tom
Atomic Tom
Atomic Tom is a rock band from Brooklyn, New York, consisting of Luke White , Eric Espiritu , Philip Galitzine , and Tobias Smith .-History:...
in the fall of 2011.
Anberlin are planning to record their sixth album in February 2012, with a tentative release date in June.
Origin of name
Anberlin lead vocalist Stephen Christian has stated different origins of the band's name in various interviews, for example that he had long planned to name his first daughter Anberlin. Struggling to find a name for the band, Stephen suggested it; "We were all sitting around trying to come up with a name. None of us were married or had kids, but one day I was going to name my daughter Anberlin, so I figured we could name the band that until we thought of something better. So we chose Anberlin and no one has thought of anything better." He stated he was no longer going to use Anberlin to name his first daughter, however he said, "If I ever have a daughter and name her Anberlin, she'll think she was named after the band instead of the other way around." Christian had also stated in another interview that the band's name was created when he was thinking about cities in Europe he wanted to visit. In his mind he listed "London, Paris, Rome, and BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
." Christian thought that "and Berlin" would be an appropriate name for a band, and so when the band was looking for a name Christian suggested "And Berlin," which was then modified to "Anberlin."
Christian has since retracted those comments admitting that when the band first started, in interviews they "would take turn making stories about how it came to be" as a joke, as he believed the actual origin of the band name wasn't interesting enough. Christian said there was a story about how his grandfather had "saved a little girl from a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
bombing... her name was Anberlin" and that they had hit a dog, which had the name Anberlin, with the stories getting more diverse, it was decided they reveal the true origin. He has said the "real" name came from the Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
song "Everything in Its Right Place
Everything in Its Right Place
"Everything in Its Right Place" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, written by lead singer Thom Yorke in 1999. It was recorded with producer Nigel Godrich in Batsford later the same year...
", stating that "There are several stories that have circulated on the internet, but the actual story is when I was in college my favorite band was Radiohead; on one of their songs off the record Kid A
Kid A
Kid A is the fourth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released in October 2000 by the Parlophone label. A commercial success worldwide, Kid A went platinum in its first week of release in the United Kingdom. Despite the lack of an official single or music video as publicity, Kid A...
there is a background noise on the song "Everything in Its Right Place" (about 2 minutes 31 seconds into the song). While Thom (Yorke)
Thom Yorke
Thomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
is singing try to say I always thought the background noise sounded like Anberlin, I always thought that Anberlin would have been a great band name and well...it was/is."
Status as a Christian musical group
Over the years, many fans, critics, and other members of the media have consistently characterized Anberlin as a ChristianChristian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band. However, Stephen Christian stated in an interview that their faith is more complicated than a simple label: "I think we're categorized like that a lot because we're on Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
, which, years ago, was known as a Christian label and never lost that reputation. I don't care who listens to our records. If it helps people in whatever circumstances they're in, that's amazing, but I definitely don't classify us as a Christian band." Elsewhere, Christian has remarked, "[My faith] affects every single aspect of my life, but I'm not a preacher, I'm an entertainer."
Despite these statements and others of the like, multiple sources list the band as part of the Christian rock genre, and some Anberlin song lyrics do contain Christian references. Furthermore, the band appears at Christian music festivals such as Parachute Music Festival
Parachute music festival
The Parachute Music Festival is a Christian music festival held annually at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand.The festival is run by Parachute Music and lasts for four days and three nights. 'Parachute' is the Southern Hemisphere's largest Christian music festival, primarily...
and Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival is a Christian music festival put on by Jesus People USA and held annually around the 4th of July near Bushnell, Illinois. In a given year, many artists that play at Cornerstone also play at other events such as Creation Festival and mainstream festivals and tours such as the...
, and their songs have been included on Christian rock compilation CDs and DVDs. They are also played on the Gospel Music Channel
Gospel Music Channel
gmc is an American satellite and cable television channel, known from its 2004 launch until February 1, 2010 as Gospel Music Channel. It is also available in high-definition as a separate channel called gmcHD ....
.
Anberlin has also been repeatedly featured in Christian rock magazine HM (Hard Music, which was originally the fanzine Heaven's Metal). Christian submitted a letter to the magazine, criticizing the more overtly religious Christian punk
Christian punk
Christian punk is a form of Christian music and a subgenre of punk rock with some degree of Christian lyrical content. Much disagreement persists about the boundaries of the subgenre, and the extent that their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies among bands...
band the Knights of the New Crusade for a promotional image that represented a "black mark on the face of Christianity".
Christian has also said in an interview with Lightforce radio how the band tries to "step out of the bubble" and referred to themselves as being part of Christian music. He discussed in detail what Christians should do in their lives: love and embrace others as Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
would as well as show God's grace to others. He mentioned as well how the band Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
said in an interview that they did not really know much about Jesus until Anberlin toured with them.
In an interview with Smartpunk, drummer Nathan Young commented, "The thing is, some bands that are trying to get out of the Christian market, they get bummed out by questions about it. I don’t really mind it, because I’m a Christian, and I’m okay talking about it. With the whole term 'Christian Band,' I don’t understand how a band can be Christian. We get the question, 'Is Anberlin a Christian band?' and it’s like, yeah, Anberlin is — as humans".
Members
- Stephen ChristianStephen ChristianStephen Christian is the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band Anberlin and his side-project Anchor & Braille. He and his bandmates started Anberlin in 2002, after the demise of their previous group, known as SaGoh 24/7...
– lead vocals (2002—present) - Joseph MilliganJoseph milliganJoseph Milligan is a member of the American rock band Anberlin. He is the group's lead guitarist, one of the lead songwriters and one its founding members. Milligan wrote most of the music and recorded all of the guitar tracks for Anberlin's first three albums until Christian McAlhaney joined the...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
(2002—present) - Deon RexroatDeon RexroatDeon Rexroat is the bassist for the alternative rock band Anberlin. Originally playing for the short-lived punk band SaGoh 24/7, the band dissolved, and most of its members went on to form Anberlin. He is one of the band's founding members...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2002—present) - Nathan Young – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2002—present) - Christian McAlhaneyChristian McAlhaneyChristian Edwin McAlhaney is an American musician, and currently one of the two guitarists for the alternative rock band Anberlin. He replaced Nathan Strayer who left the band in early 2007, right before the release of the band's third album, Cities. Christian was formerly a guitarist for the band...
– rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, backing vocals (2007—present) - Kyle Flynn (touring member) – guitar, keyboard, backing vocals (2008—Present)
Former
- Nathan Strayer – guitar, backing vocals (2004—2007)
- Joey Bruce – guitar (2002—2004)
- Randy TorresRandy TorresRandy Torres is a guitarist, keyboardist and background vocalist who previously played for the bands Project 86 and Crash Rickshaw. He has filled in as rhythm guitarist for the band Demon Hunter and as keyboardist, guitarist, percussionist and background vocalist for Anberlin on a recent tour...
(touring member) – guitar, keyboard, percussion, backing vocals (2010)
Studio albums
- 2003: Blueprints for the Black MarketBlueprints for the Black MarketBlueprints for the Black Market is the first album released by the band Anberlin. It was released barely a year after the band formed, and was the only album that was released with guitarist Joey Bruce in the band line-up. Blueprints had two singles, "Readyfuels", for which a music video was...
- 2005: Never Take Friendship PersonalNever Take Friendship Personal-Personnel:*Stephen Christian – vocals, guitar*Deon Rexroat – bass*Joseph Milligan – lead guitar*Nathan Strayer – guitar*Nathan Young – drums*Aaron Sprinkle – production, engineering*JR McNeely – mixing*Troy Glessner – mastering...
- 2007: CitiesCities (Anberlin album)- Special-edition bonus tracks :These tracks are also included in the compilation album "Lost Songs"* Special Edition version includes a DVD behind the scenes of the making of Cities.The album released in Japan had an extra track titled "The Haunting."...
- 2007: Lost SongsLost Songs (Anberlin album)Lost Songs is a compilation album from the alternative rock band Anberlin, released on November 20, 2007. It is a collection of covers, unreleased songs from previous album sessions and acoustic versions...
- 2008: New SurrenderNew SurrenderThe actual recording and production took place at multiple studios in Hollywood, California, under Avron throughout March and early April 2008. The first recording took place at Swing House Recordings in West Hollywood, followed by NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, where they completed at...
- 2010: Dark Is the Way, Light Is a PlaceDark is the Way, Light is a Place-Personnel:*Stephen Christian – Vocals,*Joseph Milligan – Guitar, keyboards, programming*Nathan Young – Drums*Christian McAlhaney – Guitar, keyboards, programming*Deon Rexroat – Bass...
Anchor & Braille
Stephen Christian formed an acousticAcoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
side project, Anchor & Braille
Anchor & Braille
Anchor & Braille is the acoustic side project of Anberlin's lead singer Stephen Christian with collaboration from Aaron Marsh of Copeland.-History:...
. The project was originally a joint venture with Aaron Marsh
Aaron Marsh
Aaron Marsh is an American singer-songwriter, musician and producer from Florida. He first gained prominence as the lead singer, guitarist, and pianist for the Florida-based indie rock band Copeland, who formed in 2000...
of the band Copeland
Copeland (band)
Copeland was an indie rock band, originally formed in 2001 by singer Aaron Marsh with his friend, bassist and backup singer James Likeness, in the city of Lakeland, Florida.-Inception:...
; however, Marsh will reportedly not feature on the project's debut album, entitled Felt
Felt (album)
Felt is the debut studio album by Anchor & Braille, the side-project of Anberlin lead vocalist, Stephen Christian. The album was released through Christian's own label Wood Water Records and Federal Distribution on August 4, 2009 and was produced, engineered and mixed by Aaron Marsh from fellow...
, although he did produce it. The project first yielded a 7" vinyl, and Felt was released on August 4, 2009.
Work with organizations
Anberlin has a history of working closely with a range of charity and community support organizations. Christian founded the organization Faceless International to raise awareness about issues surrounding human traffickingHuman trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
and social issues. The band's fall 2010 tour included Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee, which raises money to help impoverished communities. The band has also had a long association with To Write Love on Her Arms
To Write Love on Her Arms
To Write Love on Her Arms is an interfaith, American non-profit organization which aims to present hope for people struggling with addiction, depression, self injury, and thoughts of suicide while also investing directly into treatment and recovery...
; the organization was involved in the Cities tour, and has released a T-shirt featuring a photograph taken by Young.