Anberlin and Interstellar

Today I have some rock music for you, because it has been entirely too long since I have brought that to the table. And naturally, I have to talk about one of my favorite bands of all time, the band that got me into music in the first place. Anberlin will always have such a special place in my heart because of how their music changed my life. The first time I heard their music, I had to keep listening. I went back for more and more and before I knew it, I had fallen in love with them. Which led me to falling in love with rock music in general. Which led me to exploring all genres and kinds of music, leading me to where I am today. The evolution of my musical taste is quite interesting, but one constant is Anberlin. What makes this band so different from so many other rock bands, is that they sound like anyone else. Their musical style is very particular to them, and they have a common motif through every album and song. Anberlin tends to not be a heavy guitar rock band. They have such a great balance between all the instruments. But they also have a lot of songs that are very very different from anything any other rock band puts out. This song is one of those special songs. You see, these are the songs that do not have the formula structure of rock music. These are songs that are generally longer than your normal song, but that is because there is so much happening. Between music solos and telling a story through lyrics, Anberlin creates songs that are shadowed and darker, but also have an emotional connection. That is one of the things that I still love about Anberlin. Their lyrics are genuine works of art, words that paint a picture in our heads and makes us feel. Anberlin is kind of an emotive band, making us feel everything the song is supposed to make us feel, by writing dark and poetic lyrics which are accompanied by dynamic and and unconventional music. This song starts out with quieter and simpler guitar and percussion work, but gives way to a heavier and louder and bolder sound during the first chorus. Things do settle back down during the verses, but this is where the vocalist Stephen Christian shines. I have to say, he is one of my favorite vocalists of all time. Stephen Christian can manipulate his voice into being vulnerable and warming, sad and yearning, or wild and rebellious. Plus, the man can pull out some screamo if he needs to. I mean the vocal range is just phenomenal and the different styles he can perform make him one of the most talented and spectacular vocalists I have ever heard. A drawback of being in a band like this, sometimes you get caught in the underground and your talent doesn't get recognized when it should. But Stephen Christian easily sails into his falsetto and plunges into a deeper pitch. He also has a very smooth voice, and when holding long notes, maintains the pitch without wavering or shaking. Even when performing live. This song is a testament to Anberlin's songwriting intricacies. The song's structure is manipulated so that it is full of slow builds and colossal finales, giving the song so much life and breath. My favorite example of that in the song is right after the long musical break. He starts singing "If London's calling, don't you dare pick up the phone..." and that slow build gives way to such a grand finale. The rest of the song from that point onward leaves you absolutely speechless. Everything crescendos to the chorus, which has this beautiful pitch and key change. And it is positively electrifying. This simple switch gives the song so much more body and life and fluidity to it, and that is the part that always sticks with me the most when I listen to the song. That last chorus is simply the most hauntingly enchanting thing I have heard in a long time, and is the best part of this song for me. The end of the chorus has a slightly auto-tuned version of Stephen Christian's voice as he repeats a couple of lines, and then leads into an epic ending to which he just belts out a single word. This is a song that is dripping in a dark emotion, one that screams of addiction and lust. And of course, Anberlin's guitar layering is a masterpiece in itself. Anberlin is a very under the radar band, and slightly under appreciated one in the musical world.  But this band has some of the best music you will ever hear, and I of course will always be a life long fan. Today's instrumental song is from the movie Interstellar. This song is so indescribably done. This is a song powered by emotion and feeling, and it slowly builds up to that. Hans Zimmer creates this longer build up to a main line that is an explosion of passion and feeling and anticipation and power. That is one of the things that struck me about this piece. It sings of power and suspense, climaxing with punctuated and deliberate bow strokes. The bowing style changes throughout the piece, but that is what makes this song come to life. And this has to be the best piece of the whole score. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!