Anberlin's "Never Take Friendship Personal"

by: Jesse Virgil
Staff Writer

“I can’t believe Bright Eyes has two albums in the top ten.  Is the world catching up to me?”  These words from The O.C.’s Seth Cohen (known for his more obscure taste in music) are the greatest example of what is happening in music today. 

While mainstream music is still hot, there is a revolution of no-name bands coming out of the wood work right under us all.

Two years ago hardly anyone knew of Death Cab for Cutie, Fall Out Boy, or Bright Eyes.  But now they are on mainstream charts, playing on mainstream radio stations, with music videos on mainstream music channels.

While Anberlin may not be the front runner of this obscure to mainstream revolution, or hardly known by anyone reading this article, they are in fact what should be on the radio regularly. 

Hailing from Orlando, Anberlin has done something I have not seen in a long time.  They have made Christian music cool.  Who knew?

Most music lovers that think of Christian music get the picture of four choirboys singing about nothing besides loving Jesus.  For those who dabble in the Christian music scene, I’m sure a lot of you will point out artists like Jeremy Camp and Counting Crosses who make a living singing about and praising God and doing it without nightmares of campfires and kumbayah. 

However, I have yet to meet a band that I could listen to (until Anberlin) and not be force-fed Jesus to the point where I need to take a few weeks off from church.

Anberlin not only does not force religion onto listeners; it talks about real issues like relationships, lost loves, and the pain of being alone.  On their sophomore album "Never Take Friendship Personal" (released from the Christian label Tooth & Nail), they even admit to adultery.

 Singer Stephen Christian realizes that no one is perfect, especially not those who follow God, and confesses in "The Feel Good Drag" of a lust that overwhelmed him with a girl who belonged to someone else. 

At the same time he confronts the sin that he felt and realizes “This was over before, before it ever began, your lips, your lies, your lust, like the devils in your hands.” 

The rest of album puts Christian philosophy on the back burner without forsaking it, but opts for an emo-alternative pop/rock bubble that’s about ready to burst with talent and possibility.  The title track to Friendship starts the album off with a crunching guitar building to a great opening track that would do any album justice.

One thing that disapoints me in most mainstream albums is the lack of good songs.  Most of the time when purchasing an album, you discover that buying a few of the albums tracks online would have been a better investment of your money.   

Friendship, however, provides you with a sound investment as more than half the albums tracks are better than enjoyable.  "Paperthin Hymn" follows suit of "Never Take Friendship Personal" as it keeps the same pace of catchy hooks and deep inspirational messages of lost loves.  Christian pours out, “I thought you said forever, over and over, a sleepless night becomes bitter oblivion.”

Along the same lines "Stationary," "Time and Confusion," "The Feel Good Drag," and "Runaways" deliver great tunes that can be listened to over and over again while jamming in your car or when your hanging out. 

The top track of Friendship goes to "A Day Late" with its addictive guitar licks and beautifully laced vocal melody. 

The song takes a different spin as Christian is faced with a former love that wants to come back into this life, but he expresses “we are who we were when, could’ve been lovers but at least you’re still my day late friend, we are who, we are who we were when.”

"Never Take Friendship Personal" is a great album for anyone who loves emo-alternative influenced music.  Besides the overdone slow song "The Symphony of Blasé" and ill attempts at "Audry, Start the Revolution" and "Dance, Dance Christa Päffgen," "Friendship" is the perfect blend of lost love lyrics and catchy riffs.

This album is something no one should take personal.