Anberlin Album: “Lost Songs”

I love Anberlin, but this album might have come a little too early to be worth the full price. For die hard fans, nothing on this album is new. It's nice to have a real copy of tracks that previously were only heard through internet sites, but you're also paying for tracks you already bought from download services, on B-Sides, or on special edition CDs. For casual listeners, the album takes the band sideways rather than forward and generally is less entertaining than the studio albums. It definitely feels like the record label was trying to put a final stamp on the Anberlin brand and make a few more dollars before the band heads off to greener pastures.

All that said, Downtown Song is probably the best track on here. It's a great track from the Never Take Friendship Personal era that was previously unavailable outside of an internet bootleg. The acoustics give us some new spins on some old favorites... the best of these is the new "A Day Late" version. However, it's hard to give it more than a cursory nod given the greatness of the original track.

Bottom line: The material is thin and there are a lot of tracks here that you could have bought elsewhere. Buy this to round out your collection, but don't expect it to blow you away.

In a genre that has done little to peak my interest, Anberlin stands out from the pack. To classify them as merely "emo" is not only over-simplifying, it's a grave disservice. These guys are brilliant singer-songwriters, from music to arrangements to lyrics. That greater depth in comparison to their peers led me to investigate their back catalog, and I'm glad I did. I almost passed Lost Songs up as a "leftovers" album. I've been misled into purchasing two or three b-sides and unreleased song comps before only to find them to be clunkers. But I decided to take a chance on this one because the covers listed intrigued me. I really wanted to hear Anberlin's interpretations of them. This turned out to be a good move. Not only do they beautifully capture the spirit of the songs and artists they cover while simultaneously making them their own, but they provide a track list of previously unreleased originals and acoustic versions of favorites that go a long way toward proving that under the glossy production are high-quality songs that can stand on their own. The over-all sound of this album is amazingly consistent for a collection of songs recorded at different times and during varying sessions. To this end, it was wise to throw the extremely unpolished demos on the end so as not to disrupt the flow of the list. But fans will be glad they're there; it's fascinating to hear how these early songs evolved into the versions we know. Some may even feel that, despite the low-end sound quality, they prefer the slightly different arrangements.

For me, the only miss here was the re-make of Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone." It's a little too polished and too upbeat, whereas I feel that classic should be performed in the earthier manner Dylan originally laid out. And some have raved about the hidden track-- an electronic instrumental version of "Glass to the Arson". But Aphex Twin it is not. It's cute but not great or even professional quality. It sounds like some late-80s MIDI file. These minor criticisms aside, do not pass this comp up as inferior outtakes. Lost Songs is an essential addition to Anberlin's catalog.

I am someone who needs a good hook... a certain song, verse, video...something to get me into a band. I had heard Anberlin before, but was never very interested. This cd changed all that. Dismantle.Repair (Acoustic) and Cadence (Acoustic) have made me a fan. I listened to this album ravenously after I heard those two songs, stealing my bf's copy and eventually buying my own. I have since bought several other Anberlin albums and have seen them in concert. I like that this album can have two different takes...a 'b' side of songs for the fans that want more...and a different sound from the band for potential fans. Good work Anberlin!

It seems that in music today they can't go six months without releasing a new project. Whether they're just that insecure, or they just love putting out material seems to still be questioned, but the fans love it, and that's what counts. However, the album is much too scattered to find that you love everything, but rest assured, there will be something.

The album starts off with some of the band's best, with the much-underrated "The Haunting," which was apparently only available on iTunes before this track. As a whole, the track could be the band's best, musically and emotionally. You have to listen to it to know what I've talking about, but the track gets everything right, and leaves you in awe. "Uncanny" was found on the special edition of "Cities" and is also a great song itself, coming off with a great pop/rock vibe. "Downtown Song" also comes off good in it's catchy vibe.

In terms of covers, there's plenty to be had on this record, but their best job is on "Like A Rolling Stone." The lyrics stay intact, but the length is shortened, Steven Christian's vocals add to the experience, and the music absolutely rocks. It's a truly original take on the song, but the same cannot be said for "The Promise," which is less of a cover, and more of a copy. In either case, it doesn't succeed, with Christian's vocals hindering it more than anything. Then there's a cover of Radiohead's "Creep," which wasn't Radiohead's best song to begin with, and this version only amplifies all the song's weaknesses by again, Christian's unique vocals. The acoustic setting and the self-imposed censoring doesn't do the song any favors either.

And I've never heard the originals, but "Enjoy The Silence," and "There is a Light That Never Goes Out," are little bit more than OK. This is also the case with most of the acoustic takes, as they come out little more than OK. "Naive Orleans" is an exception, benefiting greatly from this take. But in the case of "A Day Late," they turn a great rockin' song into a mellow and generally lethargic song that is more for sleeping than anything.

For those yuletide vibes, Anberlin does an excellent job taking the normally softer holiday tune into a pop/rock extravaganza. Then we come to the raw demos, which are truly for the hardcore fan, as they'll know what changes were made between these first cuts and the final tunes. But even if you don't know the originals, they're still rockin', entertaining and fun to listen to.

Overall, sure enough you'll find something on this album you'll love. The question is, how much will you love it? If found for $10 or less, then how could you pass that up? There's 19 songs on the album, so you know you're getting your money's worth. For Anberlin fans alike and not alike, check this one out.

Did I also mention that they're basically my hometown band?

Anberlin's album "Lost Songs" is a fantastic cd, and i highly recommend it to any anberlin fan, or to anyone who likes to take risks when buying cds - it is well worth it.