Anberlin's "Cities" Ten Years Later

It’s been ten years since Anberlin released their third record, Cities, on February 20th, 2007 through Tooth & Nail Records. Cities is widely regarded as the Florida band’s finest release and for good reason. Their first two records offered a strong start for the group and showcased an increasing realization of their potential. Cities is simply where it all seemed to come together. The album highlights are almost too numerous to list. The record contains high energy rockers such as “Godspeed” and “Adelaide”, quiet, heartfelt numbers in “The Unwinding Cable Car” and “Inevitable”, mid-tempo songs like “Alexithymia” and “Dismantle. Repair.”, and concert favorites in “A Whipser & A Clamor” and the truly epic closer “(*Fin)”. Without trying to neglect the other songs on the record, it’s worth mentioning if you know anything about Cities or an Anberlin show, you know about “(*Fin)”. It serves as the “A Day in the Life” to tremendously close out what was already a monumental record. It’s for all these reasons and more Cities has been held in such high regard for ten years, and there seems to be no reason to believe this will change. The numbers back up these claims as Cities debuted at 19 on Billboard’s Top 200 charts, which ultimately propelled the band to sign with Universal Republic for their next three records before returning home to Tooth & Nail to release Lowborn in 2014. Anberlin went on to release four records of differing sound and caliber, but Cities was always the record each following release was measured against. It is arguably the pinnacle achievement in Anberlin’s storied legacy.

How does the record stand up ten years later in the context of Anberlin’s complete discography? Feel free to share thoughts, memories, and opinions involving the record as we reflect on Cities ten years later.