Philmont- Attention

Last year, a little-known band called Philmont introduced us to a fun EP called Oh Snap. But the year before that was what earned Philmont the attention they felt deserving of. After getting a spot at Cornerstone festival (which, by the way, doesn't sound too easy), they worked non-stop to attract people's attention and draw in as many fans as possible. Their commitment and killer performance was recognized by EMI/Forefront Records, and they signed shortly after. Now if that kind of hard work doesn't deserve just one or two listens, I'm not sure what does. And with a rather obnoxious album cover assaulting people's "attention" with that exact same word, Philmont pleads you to give them one shot with this debut.

Now, if you aren't familiar with last year's EP, let me fill you in. To start off, Oh Snap--the rather punny title, taking into consideration the rhinoceros crushing the title on the cover--pretty much sets the tone for the EP. Their pop/punk style mixed with a few electro elements and crunchy guitars suits their quirky--and sometimes slightly cheesy--lyrics. Of course, it's evident that they do love God, and however odd their method of displaying that might be, they've done a good job of creating some honest music. They're without a doubt aiming at a younger audience, but that only makes their meaningful lyrics more impacting. For example, the line from their single: "Tear down these walls; I'd climb, but I can't stand to fall without You." It's a good, heartfelt lyric, and at the same time holds a quality that's just kind of childish. But that's not always a bad thing, right? Just look up Matthew 18:3. The simpleness of it might not satisfy those looking for deeper, more intriguing lyricism. But, songwriting aside, Philmont managed a fairly respectable pop/punk first effort. Songs like "The Difference" and "My Hippocratic Oath" hold Philmont's heavier guitars. "Photosynthetic" and "I Can't Stand to Fall" are the more punk sounding tracks, while a rather boring and anti-climactic ballad, "Another Name," parted the EP in two.

Those songs from the EP take up a good portion of the newer album, which fans of Oh Snap might be slightly disappointed about. But if they're fans of the EP, they'll find the full-length much to their liking, so that's not a huge issue. The first track, "Hello, Jack," is one of the heaviest songs on the album. Some fans will recognize it from before they were signed. It sounds identical, except for the screaming in the bridge which is a little bit quieter and harder to hear over vocalist Scott Taube's singing. The song talks about a plane crash and questions who's really in control of the flight. We know that nothing is out of God's control, and the song points that out very well. "To Say They Hit It Off Would Be An Understatement" gets a little boring, and uses a lot of synths, which kind of makes things sound even more juvenile. In fact, a good majority of the songs have a point or two where a dance beat or synths are introduced. It sounds good in spots, but I don't think it complements the punk style or should be a prominent factor in a lot of songs.

The song "Back Down," has something of a pre-chorus that says over and over, "Back down, get your back down, baby, tonight," and almost wrecks a very good song with the cheesiness of it. Other than that piece, it's one of the most fun songs on the album, whith a chorus which sings, "I'm growing tired of climbing higher. Your love is all I have to keep me strong. As I'm ascending, I feel You with me. You wait with outstretched arms in case I fall back down." "Setting Off" is one song that is a little bit more different from the rest, and stands out considerably among the newer set of songs ("The Difference" standing out the most, for me, on the EP). The lyrics are still not enough, but the song loses all electronic influences for the entire song, something that is very rare. The song is also very catchy and very hard to get out of your head once it's in there. "Letter to the Editor," the next song, works a lot better for Philmont than "Another Name" did on the EP. This is one point where the lyrics are a bit more grown-up, and you can tell they're sung passionately, just like the final song, "The Terminal."

So if there was one thing that would make Philmont a better band, it would be maturity. It's great that they're reaching out to younger kids, but what kids listen to nowadays could be anything. It's hard to deny that these guys do have great hearts for God, and I give them lots of credit for that. Maybe as they grow up as a band, their music will follow...

Oh, Sleeper- Son of the Morning

Controversy isn't always a bad thing. Enough of it can draw in those brave and curious enough to find out what it's about, hence bringing more exposure and maybe even a few fans. Like when Oh, Sleeper released their debut in 2007, titled When I Am God. At a first look, that might seem very prideful and completely out of place. Some people might have found themselves checking the label. "That does say 'Solid State,' right?" So then what was this Christian metal band doing with a title like that?

"Vices Like Vipers"--the track from which the album title was taken from--talks about how "When I am God, the church is unsound," letting God be God, and allowing Him to rule your life. See? So this time, when their sophomore album cover was released to the public, revealing part of a pentagram, people might have taken a second look to see what this one was really about. And by not jumping to conclusions, they discovered that, again, things are not what they seem at first look. The upside-down star normally has the bottom two points at the top (those being the devil's horns) and the single point at the bottom (that being the head). However, the horns are missing, relating the the final song, "The Finisher," in which God tells Satan, "My angels will sing to a world reborn as I cut off your horns. I'll cut off your horns." Makes sense now, right?

So to start off the album, the title track speaks from Satan's point of view. A bunch of things against God and His children are said. The only part seen from God's point of view is the chorus, where He says, "If you could see like Me you'd see you haven't won anything, If you could see like Me you'd see it's by My grace you're breathing." It's a really powerful son, and can easily make us angry at Satan's mindset, all building up to the satisfying finale where God promises his demise. But between the beginning and the end is where God goes about bringing people to Him and preparing an army to defeat Satan. That's what takes up the eight tracks between.

As far as the music goes, it's your typical metal. There isn't a whole lot that sets it apart. Micah Kinard's screams are intense--as usual--but aren't as deep as a lot of metal vocalists'. They're more like the higher screams of TDWP's Mike Hranica. In most songs there are spots where things slow down temporarily, but nothing is too shockingly drastic. Kinard's singing voice is crystal-clear in places, and in others sounds like a combination of the growling and singing. The usual doubl bass becomes highly impressive in the songs "World Without a Sun" and "Commissioned by Kings." Some might even find themselves wondering how it's even possible that someone could move their feet that quickly. It's unbelievable.

Other than the fact that there's only one song over four minutes and only ten tracks, I'd say Son of the Morning is a great sophomore album for Oh, Sleeper. Any fans of Solid State should be prompted to give this album a listen with no hesitation. A great album that fantastically displays spiritual warfare, any fan of Christian metal should check this out--and always remember to look past the surface of things. They aren't always what they seem.

Demon Hunter's 5th Album

Not too long ago, I told you about Don Clark leaving Demon Hunter. Well guess who's replacing him? Randy Torres of Project 86!!! Also, Ethan Luck's tour fill in, Patrick Judge, will be permanently replacing him. In Ryan Clark's announcement, he also released some rather exciting news:

"...We have been busy working on material for our 5th album, which we will be entering the studio to record in October. At this point, I would say about 90% of the music has been written, and probably about 40% of the lyrics/melodies. As cliche as it can be to say, the album is shaping up to be heavier, faster, and more aggressive than previous Demon Hunter material (and there might be a ballad or two in there for good measure). As always, we're doing our best to maintain the classic DH sound, all the while introducing some new and exciting ideas to keep things exciting. I'm extremely proud of what we have so far, and I can't wait to enter the studio and hear it come to life!

Stay tuned in the coming months for additional news regarding the new album!

Thank you, everyone, for your continued support.

-Ryan Clark & Demon Hunter

Skillet- Awake

The now three-year-old Comatose was the album that put Skillet where they are now. Where exactly are they? Stuck somewhere between tons of Christian fans and tons of mainstream fans. Their fantastic live show and hard-rock/cello style combination have been pulling in more and more loving fans from both sides over the past few years. But it seems that this time, Skillet aimed more at mainstream fans with their newest, dozen-track effort, Awake, than Comatose originally was.

Being a predominantly mainstream artist with Christian faith isn't exactly a bad thing. By sticking subtle messages into the lyrics, the band can reach out to non-believers without overwhelming them. And, as we all know, any clean music nowadays is greatly appreciated among Christian fans, and is a great witness to unbelievers. Something is different about Skillet, and one of these days those mainstream fans will figure it out. It seems abundantly clear in the track, "Lucy," which talks about the loss of someone who was loved. Lead vocalist John Cooper sings, "I'll see you in another life, In heaven where we never say goodbye." All songs can be traced back to God in some way, but you'd have to know Skillet was a Christian band to realize the connection, as there can be many interpretations to more than a few songs.

Another thing the band seemed to aim for this time was to bring back fans of Comatose's musical style. While it seems that in 13 years, an ever-changing band would find some other direction to go with, musically, Skillet seemed content to stick very closely to the style heard three years ago--almost to the point where things are scarily similar. The song "One Day Too Late" sounds way too much like "The Older I Get" in certain places (it even sounds similar lyrically). And while Ben Kasica's guitar solos are pretty unbelievable, the one in "Awake and Alive" almost sounds recycled from "Rebirthing" and would even work as a better sounding continuation of it.

A few differences on the album come from the new drummer fro the UK, Jen Ledger. She does vocals on a few songs (yet she doesn't have any solo songs, which seemed like an obvious thing to do), and is a great addition to the Skillet team. Her vocals are most prevalent in the songs "Hero" and "Awake and Alive," providing a better change from Korey Cooper's more solemn voice. Also, the album is a bit heavier. Granted, there is no screaming (sans a distorted growl during "Monster" just for effect), which I suspected might have been present because of their live CD/DVD. Half of the songs are power ballads, all of which makes it a bit more radio-friendly. That's just one other way they'll be able to reach out to the mainstream. Although half of the time Cooper's growly voice is just enough, I think it would've been cool for him to do a little "Savior" type screams.

There are a few other spots here and there where Skillet went out on a limb to try something new. Besides the mainstream focus and the new BGV, a lot of Kasica's guitar solos are even more impressive than previously thought. Also, a lot of the violins and cellos are a lot more intense in places--and others rather calm and peaceful. They're something that makes the album a lot more enjoyable, added in places where things would've been too dry without.

So, given three years, I think Skillet should've been able to come up with something a little newer for them. That's what an artist is--not making the same album a bunch of different ways to please people. Just ask Emery. But given that the gap between albums was three years, it's good to hear anything new from Skillet. A lot of the songs are very enjoyable, but I think most fans will consider Comatose to be their favorite, something which is always a little hard to duplicate. But Skillet will definitely be picking up a lot of mainstream fans, and I give them a lot of respect for reaching out to those kids who need something good to listen to. The band members all have great hearts for Christ, and this album is going to help stretch out their ministry on a huge scale.

OFFICIAL Capital Lights Breakup Statement

Hey guys, I know a while ago I posted that Capital Lights had broken up, but the only information that proved that was from Bryson Phillips' Facebook page, which isn't too official. But this Friday, they made the announcement on their Myspace:

Hello everyone,

I just signed on the myspace for the first time in forever and I realized that it's been a long time since we have given our friends and fans an update on whats going on with Capital Lights. I know there are rumors, and a lot of people have come to us asking whether or not it's true that the band has broken up. The truth is that yes, with a whole lot of prayer, we have decided to call it quits. All of us in Capital Lights discussed and prayed about this for a few months before we mutually agreed on the decision. Although it's sad to see something that meant so much to us come to an end, it's with complete confidence when I say it's for the better. We all felt God had different plans for our lives, and it would have been impossible to pursue those plans while continuing with the band. I know that's the same thing you have heard time and time again with so many bands. I've always hated when bands break up because members feel themselves being pulled different directions... but the truth is, you never really understand it until your at that point yourself. Words can not stress how thankful we are for everyone who supported us over the past couple years. We loved playing music for all of you and thank God for providing us with the opportunity. Without our fans, we wouldn't have ever done anything more than just jammed in a garage somewhere. We had a blast touring the country for the past year and a half and feel lucky that we were able to meet so many new people. To everyone who ever bought a cd, shirt, sticker, or even dropped change into the tip box at our merch table, thank you so much... without realizing it, you were a blessing that helped us get from one town to the next. Maybe somehow we will see you all again one day. We also want to thank the Hill family, and everyone who ever gave us a home to sleep in. You all made us feel very welcome and ANYTHING beat the van!

It's crazy to reflect on the last year and a half and realize how much has happened. We signed with Tooth & Nail, recorded an album in Seattle, then toured the country. It was something we all wanted to do and once again, we appreciate you all for helping us live our dream. All of us in Capital Lights are back in school and as of last night, Brett is now engaged. So message him and tell him his life is over.

Just kidding.

God Bless you all and thanks again!

-Bryson, Brett, Michael, Jonny, Jon, and Justin.

ps- As of right now our cd's are still being sold in Best Buy, Fye, Indies, Hastings, etc... so go and buy a copy if you haven't already!!!

Thousand Foot Krutch Countdown

If anyone would like to let me know how to fit this on the sidebar, I'd greatly appreciate it. :)

RED- End of Silence

Back in 2006, I wasn't too familiar with a whole lot of Christian rock bands. Even then, I wasn't familiar with any form of rock that fused their heavy guitars with such melodic orchestration. And then there was the fact that Mike Barnes's fantastic voice and violent screams came with heartfelt and passionate lyrics. To say the least, RED won me over in very little time. And since then, RED's debut, End of Silence, has had a ton of singles that have made it really far on CHR and Rock Radio, quickly building on their success. It also proved to be just one more album to forever change the way we look at Christian rock.

The eerie piano/violin orchestration in the beginning demonstrates the mix of soft and hard, light and heavy. The soft music doesn't last long, however, as the first single to come from the band hits hard, asking God to "Breath Your life into me, I can feel You. I'm falling, falling faster. Breathe Your life into me, I still need You. I'm falling, falling. Breathe into me. Breathe into me."

Lyrics are nothing to question when coming from RED. All songs are, without a doubt, expertly written--penned by none other than guitarist Jason Rauch. Every song has lyrics that will haunt you or lift you up. Some are for worship, and some will give you something to think about. For example, we have track two, "Let Go," and track six, "Pieces." "Let Go" is about defeating the sin in our lives, and repeats that "You can't have me anymore" before launching into the longest and most brutal scream I've ever heard-- "LET GO!" And then in "Pieces" we find a beautiful worship song that asks God to put us back together again. There's quite a difference between the two, lyrically and musically. RED does a great job of executing both without leaving any doubts about talent.

The singles take up half of the album, and all are songs that must be heard at one point or another. Because if not, let me tell you, you're missing out. But other than the singles, tracks like "Wasting Time" and "Already Over, Pt. 2" stand out. While both are drastically different, they are both worthy of quite a few listens.

The End of Silence Deluxe Edition DVD is definitely a big addition to an already amazing CD. It features a live portion that displays the intense live show they deliver. If you've never seen RED live, this DVD will make you wish you had.

So 2006 proved to be a year that challenged us to forget what we knew about Christian rock. It taught us that talent can come from the oddest of places, and to listen to things a little more closely. Without RED and this release, I don't think Christian music would be the way it is today. So if you're at all into Christian music, this album is a definite must-own. And if you're into really good live shows, invest a little more to get the Deluxe Edition.

Relient K New Album Update

Above is the album cover of Relient K's next album, Forget and Not Slow Down. Not the best or most creative album cover they've ever had, but that doesn't really matter does it? What matters is what lies behind that album cover. And for that, you can listen to Radio U tonight at 6:00 Eastern to hear the title track on the Battle of the Buzz. Let me know what you think of it, because I wasn't too crazy about it. But nobody cares about my opinion, right? That's why I only have five followers...

Matt Thiessen (the lead singer) says, "It's a bit weird because there are some untitled outros and intros throughout the album. Basically, if the track list skips a number, something is up. There are eleven songs, but whole thing runs about 43 minutes." So the numbered track listing is as follows:

1. Forget and Not Slow Down
2. I Don't Need A Soul
3. Candlelight
4.
5. Part of It
6.
7. Therepy
8. Over It
9. Sahara
10.
11. Savannah
12.
13. If You Believe Me
14. This is the End
15. (If You Want It)

See what he means? You can look for the album to hit stores October 6th.

-FISHER

Poll Results & Update 8/17

So the question was "What festivals/tours are you attending this summer?" The results:

Warped Tour 28% (2)
Sonshine 14% (1)
Purple Door 14% (1)
Creation 09 42% (3)
Other 28% (2)

The only comment I have is on Purple Door--WOW. That was seriously amazing. Look for an overall review to come in the days to follow... I also posted my review for The Fear of God below, so I'd really appreciate if you read it and let me know what you think. I've also got a Classic Review for RED's debut and a review of Philmont's debut coming, which I managed to get my hands on before its release. I put a new poll up, so please VOTE! I'll try to get the CROBSESSION Flickr site done so I can put lots of pictures up. So keep checking back, because there's gonna be a lot of new stuff!

Here's the most recent news:

Ethan Luck and Don Clark have recently stepped down from Demon Hunter. Ethan is now full-time Relient K, and Don will continue working at Invisible Creature. You can read Ethan's blog here. Also, check out Relient K's tour dates for this fall. The tour kicks off on October 1st in New Haven, CT (WOOO-HOOOO!!!!!) so you can link up to check out those dates here.

Austrian Death Machine announced that they will be releasing a new album titled Double Brutal. It's actually two discs, which ought to be interesting. One disc is full of covers, while the other is full of some broooootal new tracks. If you actually intend to take it seriously, look for it to drop this fall.

And Then There Were None and Jonezetta both released new videos not too long ago. ATTWN's "Reinventing Robert Cohn" can be seen here, and Jonezetta's "Busy Body" can be viewed here. Being a huge ATTWN fan, I'm slightly disappointed with the video. It's not that it's a bad video, just slightly odd. Jonezetta, on the other hand, is a little comical. Both are worth checking out, though, so get over there already!

And last, but certainly not least, Flyleaf's sophomore album will be dropping October 27th. It's called Memento Mori. You can look for the first single, "Again," to hit iTunes August 25th (which, BTW, is when Skillet's new album comes out). Be excited. Be VERY excited.

So that's it. Check back for all the sweet stuff to come. I really appreciate you reading this!

-FISHER

Showbread- The Fear of God

After putting out Anorexia and Nevosa last year, Showbread decided to make the purest form of raw rock imaginable by mixing the styles from each of their previous albums. The Fear of God has the chaotic screaming found on their Solid State debut, the more electrified and organized effort that was Age of Reptiles, and the dark hardcore style of last year's dual release. Keeping the witty, scarcastic lyricism found throughout, The Fear of God is a release that no Showbread fan should overlook.

The album opens with an odd and funny intro at the beginning of the track "I'm Lost," similar to the one found on No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical. The rest of the track continues creepily, but nonetheless has some very honest lyrics. The album picks up with "Nothing Matters Anymore," a track that holds the same hardcore screaming from the band's most recent releases and the singing more prevelent in earlier albums. Lead singer/screamer Josh Dies' lyrics shine masterfully as he sings, "No fear, no doubt, I've bottomed out, I've lost myself I'm letting go. No pride, no me, I've set them free, I've lost my mind and now I know no pain, no death, they're put to rest, we leave them here, we close the door. No earth, no man, now take my hand, 'cause nothing matters anymore."

The theme of this album sticks closely with "the fear of God." Mainly what Dies wrote about was how those who are not believers view Christians. It must look crazy, right? Believing that nothing on earth matters--only what comes after. Serving others instead of yourself. Believing in something you can't see. So when Showbread wrote The Fear of God, they wrote about "losing your mind" for God--the truest form of fearing Him.

One of the album's catchiest songs follows, building on the theme set in the first two tracks, again using sometimes comical lyrics to get the point across. Musically, this track uses synths more heavily, reminiscent of Age of Reptiles' more pronounced electronic sound. It's still heavy in a lot of places, something only Showbread could pull off--having an electronic hardcore flavor: "Regret Consumes Me" opens with a fun dance beat and contains other electronic noises throughout; "The Great Emasculation" opens with a synth piece similar to Showbread's sophomore "Pachycephalosaurus" and progresses into the newer hardcore style; "Let There Be Raw"--a tribute to Showbread's style of raw rock--uses a lot of synths while screaming "RAW ROCK!" again and again. So overall, The Fear of God has quite a range of different styles mixed together, which will probably make it appealing to a larger audience.

The album's light dims for a moment in "Out of My Mind," a song written for Dies' wife. It suffers musically with a short and bland chorus, and not much to make it memorable. A guitar solo close to the end makes it a little more enjoyable, but not much otherwise does. Things get better with "Vehement," which talks about overcoming pride so that we can be able to tell someone they're doing something they shouldn't be. Dies says over and over that "I've got to get myself to forget myself" and afterwards asks "Lord, I hate the sin so much, and I love the sinner, I certainly do. But how will they know how to purge the evil if I don't tell them what to do?"

"Shepherd, No Sheep" is one of the most musically and lyrically interesting songs on the album. Dies speaks to those who dislike Showbread because of a certain way things were put or what style was used. He sarcastically asks for forgiveness for not finding out what they wanted before putting out the music. In the end he says, "At Your feet I admit defeat, my work is now in your hands. If they want to hear stupid music, then so very bad, they can start themselves a band." For Showbread--and most other Christian bands--writing music is not just something they do to please people. It's to do what God wants, and anyone who questions that is just dead wrong.

"I Think I'm Going To See You" is one of the most fun songs on the album, again going back to the theme of losing your mind, saying, "The more the world puts in my mouth, the less I feel like chewing it. I found the way to madness and I'm opening the door. The more I say what's on my mind, the more I feel I'm losing it. They tell me what to care about and I don't care anymore." The following song, "Precursor," is another heavy track, slowing down enough at the end to say that, "Believing in nothing is scary. Believing in something is scarier still." From there the album slows down for good, with the title track and a song written to a deceased friend wrapping things up. They're both very melodic songs that might not entirely appeal to Showbread fans, but are actually some of the best songs on the album. The latter might be a bit emotional for some people, "Once sick and frail, once weak and pale, now made perfect and new. No more aching and crying, no more breaking and dying, finally home in the arms of Who loves you."

The Fear of God manages to satisfy those of us who may have been looking for some more fun music this year. It's also very deep and well written--something that is always a plus. Showbread's mish-mash of previous styles was a genius move that I very much appreciate. But of course, you just know something crazy is coming next, as Showbread never likes to stay in the same place, musically, for very long. And hopefully the time between albums doesn't differ much, so that we can have something to look forward to next year. Have fun losing your mind while waiting!

Recent Breakups :(

A lot of you are familiar with the electro-/power-pop act Capital Lights. Well, I'm sorry to say they've split. Lead vocalist Bryson Phillips announced recently that the band's last show was at Cornerstone. Now he hasn't gone into much detail, but they have recently backed out of a number of shows and festivals, including Sonshine Festival and Purple Door. Hopefully everything is well, but keep them in their prayers as the guys begin a new chapter in they're lives. I'm sure their album (which will, sadly, remain singular) This is an Outrage! will be remembered for quite some time.

Also, it has been known that Hell or High Water would be As Cities Burn's final album. The band recently announced that they have called it quits after six years. RIP :(

Let's hope all of our other favorite bands don't get any ideas...

-FISHER

Anchor & Braille- Felt

Stephen Christian is, among most, considered to be a lyrical mastermind. His main project, Anberlin, is his most well-known. But not too many people have heard of his new side-project, Anchor & Braille... which was exactly his plan. Many of the songs Christian wrote were not in the same style as Anberlin, and he felt that some of the lyrics were a bit too personal to be sharing with such a large audience. So he devised Anchor & Braille with the help of Copeland's lead singer, Aaron Marsh, who produced, engineered, and mixed the debut, which Christian titled Felt.

Those who are familiar with Christian's genius know that any new material by him is to be highly anticipated. And the fact that this debut has been worked on for almost four years now is
just one more reason why it should be considered a big deal. But anyone looking for the fun, pop-rock style of Anberlin will probably be disappointed, and maybe a bit surprised at the genre. It's mainly acoustic and very laid back. Such is evident with the first track, "Rust (The Short Story of Mary Agnosia)." Stephen uses his falsetto vocals in places, oftentimes reflecting Marsh's singing style. But his voice perfectly displays the ever-so-sad lyrics to follow along. The acoustic guitar, electric keyboard, some violin, and drums all come together to form a style drastically different from what Anberlin fans are used to. Although I must say that while some of the drums in the song seem out of place with the slower style, they help to keep things a little bit more upbeat than they could have been without. It seems somewhat awkward at first, but after a while it shouldn't be difficult to get used to.

The following track and first iTunes single, "Like Steps in a Dance," is a very beautiful song, with lyrics to match. The drums here are, partially, what give the song its character, and fit just fine. Christian uses his fantastic voice to go with his lyrical talent in an expert manner, again using his falsetto in a lot of the chorus. The song is one of the most outstanding tracks on the album. An electric guitar solo in "Blur" is executed perfectly, keeping the tone set by the first two songs. There is not a moment where the music does not strike as beautiful, except maybe shortly at the end of "Introspect," where the guitar just seems a bit haphazard--but entirely acceptable for a song ending and nowhere in between. Also, at the beginning of "Wedding/Funeral" the music seems to stutter for a bit before taking off. I find this slightly irritating, but nevertheless it assures that things never become too dry.

Christian and Marsh manage to keep things diverse, but not so much that there is any unexpected turn. Things stay true to the style throughout, but they mix up things enough to where there aren't any sound-alikes. A crunchy, static-filled guitar solo in track nine (which has a rather lengthy title) goes against the traditional sound found in the majority of the album, which I would say is the only point where they stray from the original concept.

Something that gives a lot of the songs their calm feel is the violin. I found myself drawn to that more than anything else. In places it's eerie--others it could almost put you to sleep with its peacefulness. It's at its most beautiful in "Summer Tongues." The piano throughout is, also, flawless.

"Sleep. When We Die." is another outstanding song, featuring vocals by Marsh in the bridge, accompanied by a sax or trumpet or some other wind instrument, and an electronic drum beat. Those who've heard Punk the Clock, Vol. 3 will recognize the song as formerly labeled, "Still Sleeping," with a few different sounds in places. Marsh also does some vocals on the following song, "Forget Love, I Just Want You To Make Sense To Me Tonight," the lengthy title I spoke of earlier.

Anberlin fans might be attracted to the song, "Sing Out." I found it slightly reminiscent of Anberlin's sound, while keeping it acoustic. It's a bit more upbeat and catchy than the rest of the music, and it's a rather nice addition. Fans of the "Feel Good Drag" acoustic version should give it a listen. And the final track is yet on more beautiful reminder of why Stephen Christian is so lyrically and musically talented.

From originality to the diversity to the unbelievable mind behind it, Anchor & Braille has managed a debut that will most certainly be remembered among Anberlin fans. While it may not satisfy those looking for another fun album this summer, it's certainly something you could find yourself chilling to. Felt is highly recommended to anyone who's into good music in general. I'll definitely be listening to it for a while.