Anberlin/Paper Route/All Get Out

The emo/screamo scene has shifted some since Anberlin first formed some ten years ago. Popular acts such as Fall Out Boy are no longer filling arenas and outdoor sheds. And yet, Anberlin keeps plugging away (and apparently hasn’t been dropped yet by Universal, which issued last year’s Vital). The band throws a few more keyboards into the mix, something that’s apparent right from the opening notes of Vital’s opening tune “Self-Starter,” an up-tempo tune that even borders on power-pop. The album doesn’t deviate much from formulaic emo and screamo, but the Christian band’s positivity is a welcomed change from the doom and gloom of most of its musical peers. (Jeff Niesel)