Anberlin
May 6, 2003
Tooth & Nail
Ready Fuels
The album starts with the uptempo altrocker Ready Fuels which is energetic and shows solid musicianship. It draws influences from several alternative subgenres and the strong vocals are a definite plus. The album starts with a killer song that shows what this band is all about.
Foreign Language
Foreign Language has a punk attitude, with it’s playful vocals and ‘chopping’ guitar work. The song gets underway quite fast and shows the same amazing energy the band also displayed in the opener. They combine this with a whole lot enthusiasm and passion into a catchy rock & roll song.
Change The World (Lost Ones)
On Change The World the band displays a bit more of an indie sound, which doesn’t really fit the vocals in this particular song. The song is too ’round’ which doesn’t bring out the band’s maximal potential.
Cold War Transmissions
The loud rocker Cold War Transmissions has heavy guitar work and a bit screamo-vocals at times (kinda later Metallica meets FFAF) but then the tempo gets boosted up and the fast-forward mentality takes over. A decent song, but by no means a classic.
Glass To The Arson
Glass To The Arson is one of the band’s better songs. It’s loud, energetic, full of passion and everything has a role in this song. The alternative nature of the song is immediately apparent (Velvet Underground influence anyone?) and the modern-rock vocals and melodic potential of the song (kinda similar to how 12 Stones does this) are lifting this song to a higher level.
The Undeveloped Story
This is a fan favorite with it’s energy and catchiness. Vocally it’s not one of the better tracks on the album, but the hasty, speedy vocals do kind of fit with the nature of the song and it has a good format for live performances, which gives this song the ability to light up an audience.
Autobahn
Anberlin turns up the alternative button a notch on Autobahn which works really well for them. It shows more musicality and clever songwriting, without losing the catchy uptempo energy this band is already being known for. Autobahn might be THE highlight on this debut album.
We Dreamt In Heist
We Dreamt In Heist is a little more mainstream and not as loud, but in essence the song’s still an uptempo alt-rocker. Kinda like a more alternative version of Relient K or Switchfoot, and I must say, with this tuned down music, the real quality of this band really shines. This radio single candidate gives every part of the song its time in the spotlight and musically it is one of the best on “Blueprints”.
Love Song
Another fan favorite. And I must agree on this one. Even though I didn’t like it too much at first, Love Song has grown on me a lot. The alternative song (reminds me of Hybrid L, Lazyeye, PsykNyne) has great guitar work and the vocals are as good as any and the band really did a great job on this song. The changes in tempo and loudness are well-timed and the song comes together very strongly.
Cadence
Cadence isn’t really one of the album’s highlights. The song gets a little boring after a couple listens, and though the band tried very hard, it never really sparks my enthusiasm. The keys are a nice touch but they can’t change the fact that this band can do so much better.
Naive Orleans
Anberlin leaves us on a good note though. Naive Orleans has one of the best build-ups on the album and vocally it is done quite well too. It’s a song that you can really get into. A great anthem to finish this promising debut album with. Not to mention one of my favorite Anberlin songs.
“Blueprints” shows a very talented band with a lot of energy and the ability to write good rock songs. There’s a lot of room for growth, but the basics are all there: talent, energy, passion and clever songwriting. The band might need a little bit of time to mature some more and ease into their comfort zone, but they made a strong start.