#ripanberlin

Today my favourite band of all time announced that their upcoming album and tour will be their last.

Over the years Anberlin and myself have become synonymous with each other amongst my family and friends.  When someone hears news of them, or a song on the radio they run to tell me. Boyfriends are unsurprised to see Anberlin posters on my wall - even as an adult. And nobody bats an eyelid at my lining up outside a venue all day before a show.

And yet here I sit, feeling strangely alone amongst the memories and melancholy.

So, dear Tumblr. Let me tell you my Anberlin stories.

It was 2005 I think, when I was leaving a local gig at the Flinders University Tavern that I was handed a flyer for an upcoming gig. It was for Anberlin on their Never Take Friendship Personal tour. I had heard of them on the radio (Triple J's Short Fast Loud to be specific) but didn't know enough to warrant going to a gig alone. So I bought the album but skipped the gig.

I grew up to that album.

I went from a timid teenager who wouldn't go to a gig alone, to an adult comfortable in her own skin enough to take on the world. And at the very least be comfortable with her alternative taste in music.

Then Cities happened. 

I bought it at JB Hi Fi on one of the first days of release. I had heard rumours that it's release was imminent but I hadn't paid attention to specific dates.

I was initially struck by the album art but the content was more than I ever imagined. This album is probably my favourite album of all time. 

I fell in love to this album. Every song resonated with me on a whole new level, like I was seeing the world for the first time. 

The Cities tour saw Anberlin play at Fowlers Live in Adelaide and I almost missed them. Their show sold out much faster than I was expecting so I milked my music contacts and street cred for all it was worth to get my hands on a ticket long after the sold out sign had gone up. 

And lucky I did because it was one of the most amazing shows I ever seen at one of my favourite venues. Their song 'Adelaide' being played in Adelaide is always a highlight.

My partner in crime Nomes saw them at the airport the following day and told them how much I had loved the show and they were gracious of course.

The New Surrender era:

I was late to the party on this one. Within my loved up haze I not only barely listened to this album upon it's release, but I also missed the tour! I had tickets to their show at The Gov in support of this album but missed it after getting my dates wrong and ending up in Canberra that weekend.

I finally connected with this album about 18 months after its release when I got my heart broken. This is my heart break album - and it fulfills this role well. This was really an album that required time and space to appreciate it's full complexity and I regret that it took me so long to really see through the fog and 'get' this album.

I remember carrying home my vinyl copy of Dark Is The Way, Light Is The Place like I was cradling a baby in my arms. And the first time I put it on the turntable and lowered the arm was a special moment.

I listened to it for the first time from start to finish while sitting on the floor in front of the record player devoting all my attention to it. After 5 years Anberlin had earned that kind of respect from me. No candy crush, no twitter, no texts - just music and concentration.

While not my favourite album, this one has some really strong heavy rock tracks which is a return to what I really love about them. That ability to bring quality song writing and melodies to heavy rock.

Listening on the floor from start to finish is still my favourite way to experience this album.

Vital. 

As the most recent addition to the fold I'm still developing a history with his album but the songs are great and I'm looking forward to experiencing it more. This album is still evolving for me and it's ability to keep me interested is a credit to these amazing songwriters.