| CD REVIEW Anarbor |
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Band : Anarbor A little more than a year after the release of their 7-track mini-album Free Your Mind (which was the follow-up to the band’s Hopeless Records debut 4-track EP The Natural Way…but you can read more about this Alternative Pop Rock quartet’s history in the review I made for the FYM release, posted 25/03/2009), the Phoenix, Arizona based band is back with their debut full-length release, again produced (like the previous releases through the label) by Mike Green (why indeed, change a winning team?)! 11 tracks (with a total playing time of 37 ½ minutes per listening session) relating all kinds of short-stories about the things a young American male could get swooped into, whether he’s in a band, or not. Just like on the previous release, the focus is towards melodic stuff with a degree of catchiness, great interlocking play between lead and rhythm guitarist, and nicely harmonic lead vocals backed with diverse backings (mostly of the harmonic type, but occasionally a shouted or semi-screamed passage when necessitated for a specific song’s mood). What with the album already out for a while (even before the promo copy came to the website), I’m quite certain that it got into the charts…that’s how good the material on it is! Don’t believe me at word value, just check it out for yourself by listening to the 6 tracks the band posted at myspace.com/anarbor (apparently there’s been more adaptations on that site’s music player during the last year, because it now also has no less than 4 tracks – and a sample of a 5th – off Free Your Mind). With the band on the Van’s Warped Tour throughout the Summer, you know where to expect ‘em to play for the first time being, right? As for my personal appreciation, this full-length definitely sees the guys pushing up one more notch towards the year-lists! 90/100 Tony. |