Awesome review.

One thing I disagree with you though is *fin vs. Misearbile Visu (Ex Malo Bonum)

While *fin does have that "epic" factor, (Stephen's vocals, child choir etc) I have issue with the length and while his vocals are awesome, I feel that it's somewhat lacking. (I can't quite put my finger on what it is exactly...)

Misearbile... to me, has more emotion - maybe that's the wrong wording, but it's all that I can think of at the moment. Everything just fits in to place in this song, the instruments don't just "do their job" they ... I'm wanting to say "lift" the song but I don't know if that makes sense...

Well, this isn't much of an argument at all haha.This Message Edited On 09.28.08

ok so um guys i like never take friendship personal more

am i old skool now

i havent heard this one yet but I prefer that one to the other albums (though I have only heard a couple songs off black market)This Message Edited On 09.28.08

Album Rating: 3.0

disappear has the most awesome chorus ever

Album Rating: 4.0

i really didn't think Anberlin could outdo Cities. i mean, i had faith they could pull it off, but i really didn't think they'd do it. They definitely did it

Album Rating: 4.0

this album is really really good.

Really think so?

Who are the other two?

This review has made me check out this album.

Pretty good first time through.

Opening song is the shit.

Album Rating: 4.0

Good album, a few dud songs (Blame me! Blame me!, Haight St.) but there are some real champions too (The Resistance, Breathe, Burn Out Brighter, Feel Good Drag)...yet to hear its ending.

i think Iai is my favourite reviewer

but dw chan you're good this review is sexcellent

Not good at all. I know people here don't think for themselves but even the guys at Absolute Punk managed to figure out this was bad.

I guarentee you that had Channing reviewed this at a 2 or 2.5 most of the ratings would mirror that and not his high rating.This Message Edited On 09.29.08

Nah, I quite enjoy this. Not to the level where it's anywhere near approaching 4.5 but more than anything it's a solid alternative album that's easy to listen to. The band does their job well.

Regarding users not thinking for themselves, I can think of a few users who tend to kiss the ground before other more 'prominent users' but I think a lot of the 'hyped' albums on this site are hyped because they actually are good and a lot of users on this site enjoy them, rather than rating them high so that other people think they're cool. I can think of a few albums that AP users absolutely adore and I'd hazard a guess to say that people enjoy it for the music rather than the rep enjoying it will bring.

Nah, I quite enjoy this. Not to the level where it's anywhere near approaching 4.5 but more than anything it's a solid alternative album that's easy to listen to. The band does their job well.

Regarding users not thinking for themselves, I can think of a few users who tend to kiss the ground before other more 'prominent users' but I think a lot of the 'hyped' albums on this site are hyped because they actually are good and a lot of users on this site enjoy them, rather than rating them high so that other people think they're cool. I can think of a few albums that AP users absolutely adore and I'd hazard a guess to say that people enjoy it for the music rather than the rep enjoying it will bring.

Album Rating: 4.5

I can't wait for the day Pixiesfanyo and DFellon completely disagree on something, perhaps half the user bases heads will explode.

Great review, I've really gotte into this band as of recently. They always have a few catchy song son their album that are great. I'll be sure to check this one out as soon as possible.

I think a lot of what you're saying has to do with, like you mentioned, new users trying to fit in. As we've seen plenty of times with users who blatantly disagree with common opinion (although a lot of them do actually act like complete morons in the process. See: ilikemusicthatsucks.), they aren't as instantly accepted as those who drop by and give a quick "album rules". I dunno, it's some weird notion that being accepted into the community of an online reviewing site will complete your life.

However, I do strongly believe that those users don't occupy a huge portion of this site. It just may seem a bit blown out of proportion as they're the ones who you'll see commenting more on popular albums and the like so you might get the idea that there are a lot more of those kinds of users than there actually are. I mean, I make like two comments a day and I'm pretty sure it's the same for a lot of other users, so comparing that to the entire page of conversation between two posters over how incredible an album is, it creates a false impression.

People here still have opinions. It just takes a bit more time to find the good ones. Plus, even despite that, this site is still awesome for finding good music, regardless of the users that occupy it. Hyped albums are solid more often than not, although I've come to learn to take a lot of reviews with a pinch of salt and try to listen to the album before making hasty expectations of how much I'll definitely enjoy it and the like.

First two albums were pretty great, never checked out Cities for some reason. Will get this, good review.

So, have these guys gotten a lot better since first album or two, or does this site have a lot of Anberlin fanboys, because I remember thinking so-so then.

Nice review makes me want to listen just to hear the guy's voice, which I am guessing has improved as well.

maybe the reason people like this record is because it is *gasp* good