I gotta go to town but I plan to listen to this tonight multiple times.

Definitely getting the best buy deluxe of this. Will pick up the vinyl when they release it on something other than a double 10"

Originally Posted by Readyfuels

They said on Twitter today that the 2nd pressing will be a 12"

Awesome. I will hold out for that. I got nothing against 10" but I personally find them better for EPs. I also want to put this with Blueprints For The Blackmarket, Never Take Friendship Personal, and Cities.

The album is really good. It is Anberlin in true form.

Originally Posted by nicolerork

Why does everyone hate New Surrender? I think "Breathe" was one of their best songs. Anyway, I enjoyed the first listen. Will have to listen some more.

I don't think its hate rather than disappointment and after NTFP and Cities it is hard not to blame them. It was not bad but just not as good and the remake of Feel Good Drag was just so unnecessary.

Originally Posted by reid

you mean the remake that got them a #1 radio hit? and 3.25 million youtube plays?

I know it gave the remake was successful but I just don't get why it needed to be redone in the first place. It did not come out sounding any better and most of those views only know anberlin for that 1 song which was done so much better on NTFP. Honestly I doubt everyone who loved that song became long term fans and went to check out every album. Maybe "Unnecessary" was the wrong word to use but I just don't see why they needed to redo a song in the first place for that album. I am not one of those people who hate things that are popular and think New Surrender is a pretty good album but every time I hear that version it just bothers me. Its basically a good song redone for a bigger label that just turned out more radio friendly and yet gets all the praise. Heck plenty of songs on New Surrender are better than it anyways. Its not necessary a terrible remake but it just sounds odd because it could've been better and stands out in a negative way on that album.

I hope that makes more sense. I am glad they got some airplay but even that never got a Anberlin album to even gold status. I think Anberlin are better off writing music that has edge like this.

Originally Posted by OurLadyCoolbean

So bands shouldn't try to be successful because not everybody is going to buy their albums from hearing their singles? Yeah right bro

You totally did not read anything else I wrote did you?

No, a band should always strive to write great songs and hope singles generate new listeners. I was only commenting on the fact the song got so much success and it is a watered down remake of a song from an older album. If they had released a new song and it had got as much attention I would of liked it more.

The only reason I say I doubt everyone who checked out that song became a long time fan is because the band did not really get much more attention in the mainstreams than the one hit. Its one of those situations where people should of checked the band out but I think if more had than the album would of went gold at least or generated more purchases of future albums.

I think Anberlin should do everything they can to be heard but continue to progress and honestly I think this album progresses on the sound set forth in Cities instead of watering their sound down to be more radio friendly like New Surrender (despite having good songs). Despite its mixed reception I am glad they did release DITWLIAP because it showed progression in a different area. Vital shows the band pushing themselves and why I hope it gets good reviews and sells well I think an album of this caliber is more important than redoing an old song just to bank on a big single (bank as in popularity and not as in cash as Its obvious the band is in it for the music)

Originally Posted by MGAdams

I get the point you're trying to get through but unfortunately you're going to be eaten alive on this thread for making it, so it seems.

I honestly bet most people would agree. Not everyone and they are entitled to their opinion.
New Surrender is an album most people on this site probably find decent but not as good as NTFP or Cities. Everyone has varying reasons and I know for a fact this is a common fault others have shared about New Surrender before. I am also praising Vital for its sound and how the band crafted a high caliber album that I can only hope sells well but all sales aside I am glad to know the band can still craft albums of this quality.

Originally Posted by thechetearly

How are the lyrics as a whole? The singles I heard off of it that has been my biggest reservation so far. And I would rather at this point just give up on them and not listen to this album ever, as opposed to hate them even more with the awful lyrics from the past two records.

If you don't like the lyrics on the singles I don't see you liking the album but at the same time if you don't like the album I have to wonder what you liked about this band in the first place as it is the logical progression from Cities with elements of NTFP. Vital is a really good album and my favorite tracks were not singles but self starter is one of the best tracks overall on the album.

Just curious what about the lyrics of the first 2 singles did you not like. I thought Self Starter more than anything really had a Godspeed feel.

Originally Posted by Forefall

I've never been a fan of Anberlin, specifically for the vocal style. With autotune, it's just so much worse. I can't stand listening to him sing. It's really frustrating because the music behind it is absolutely killer.

Instrumental version of the album, please? :|

I don't hear this autotune you speak of on the album. I mean I listened twice but maybe not closely enough. I know they layered a lot of synth but the dude sounds as good as he has always in the past imo.

Originally Posted by Forefall

Yeah, you're right. I take the autotune comment back. The stream is incredibly bad quality that made it sound like his voice was autotuned to me. I'm just not a fan of some of the synths (especially on Innocent) and I still don't care for his voice. More of a personal thing I guess. The music is really fucking great and the lyrics are nice (though not spectacular). I want to like this band so much, too.

His screams are decent though.

Eh my best suggestion is wait for higher quality release of the album. Not gonna change your opinion of his vocals and tons of times really talented artists and bands have not really done it for me because of the vocals. If you end up not liking it don't fret cause while Anberlin are really good this is a golden era for finding small bands who are really good and may sound similiar.