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JFH Music Review


Anchor & Braille, 'New Mexico'
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Anchor & Braille
New Mexico



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Alternative / Rock
Album length: 14 tracks: 43 minutes, 50 seconds
Street Date: July 25, 2025


READER RATING:   


In the past, Anchor & Braille has always seemed to serve as a creative outlet for Stephen Christian to explore ideas that wouldn't fit the sound of Anberlin. With the longtime frontman taking a step back, questions arise whether New Mexico would continue the contemplative, synth-heavy sound present on previous Anchor & Braille releases, or would explore even more new territory? It is decidedly the second, with the album filled with loud alternative rock tracks. Repeated lyrical and sonic motifs throughout New Mexico evoke the deserts of the American Southwest, with a nostalgia for a past filled with cowboys, campfires, and Route 66.

After a brief intro track, "Sweet Jesus Knows" kicks things off with an almost blues-punk flavored rocker that recalls the noisy two-piece '68. While the electronics from previous Anchor & Braille albums aren't totally gone, here they aid in creating the details of sonic landscapes dominated by more traditional rock instrumentation. The album excels at blending a myriad of styles into a cohesive tracklist, moving from the brash indie rock of "Rattlesnakes" to the upbeat pop rock of "Real Life," all the way to the dreamy soundscapes of "The Weight of 1917." Elsewhere, tracks such as "Time Is Cruel" and "Backlands" experiment with dramatically shifting tempos midtrack to great effect, adding a layer of complexity without detracting from the album's overall energy and drive. Lyrically, the album approaches themes of perseverance in the face of difficulties, whether personal, physical, or spiritual. This is reinforced by the framework of the intro track and three "Sozo" interludes with the repeated refrain of "Don't ever believe that you're not loved." It's poetic in a way that's both clear and easy to personally connect with.

While it is a sonic departure from past albums, New Mexico's experimentation is a resounding success. This is by far the most energetic Anchor & Braille release yet, and maybe the most cohesive as well. For fans who have come to love Stephen Christian's softer, more electronic releases under this project, there's plenty to enjoy, but even Anberlin fans who haven't connected as much with this project in the past should give this release a chance. As I happened to be making a cross-country drive through this region in preparation for this review, I can confirm it is an excellent driving album that will immediately transport listeners into that environment, and onto a journey packed with fun tunes and thought-provoking lyrics.

- Review date: 8/3/25, written by Kevin McGuire of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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JFH Staff's Second Opinion



Imagine a lone figure standing in a sun-scorched desert, guitar slung low on one hip, a six-shooter on the other, the horizon rippling with heat like a mirage. That's the world Anchor & Braille's New Mexico pulls you into from the first note -- a wild, spaghetti western-fueled gallop. This 14-track odyssey, Stephen Christian's fifth under his indie-pop alias, isn't just an album; it's a high-noon duel between expectation and reinvention. And like any good showdown, it's thrilling, unpredictable, and impossible to look away from.

The journey begins with "Drive," a tumbleweed rolling in through a saloon door, as Christian's father narrates an atmospheric intro with the gravelly charm of a cowboy storyteller. Suddenly, you're there, transported to a rugged, soul-stirring landscape. "Sweet Jesus Knows" bursts in next, its punk-rock energy relentless, like a dust storm you can't outrun. Then comes "Stones," stuttering and halting with electronic flourishes until a soaring breakdown eases you into the album's heart: "Corrales." Here, a violin-assisted simmer cradles lyrics like, "One more day and one more night / 'Cause on that morning, there'll be a light / I can't outrun it, and I can't hide / But until then, I just want to go home again." It's a haunting confession, Christian wrestling with the man in the mirror, his voice aching with the weight of rediscovery. This is the sound of a soul piecing itself back together in the rugged expanse of Corrales, New Mexico -- a place where, after Anberlin's 2015 fade-out, Christian found not just solace but rebirth.

Is it flawless? No, but it's the closest Anchor & Braille attempt. "Slow Burn" drags its boots a touch, but that's hardly a concern. The replay factor overall? Sky-high. The cohesive sound? Spot on. I keep spinning it, caught in its glow and the wonderfully weird spark that makes New Mexico feel like a pilgrimage I didn't know I needed. - Review date: 8/8/25, Josh Balogh of Jesusfreakhideout.com

 

. Record Label: Equal Vision
. Album length: 14 tracks: 43 minutes, 50 seconds
. Street Date: July 25, 2025
. Buy It: Equal Vision (Vinyl)
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. Drive (1:36)
  2. Sweet Jesus Knows (3:08)
  3. Stones (2:48)
  4. Corrales (4:37)
  5. Rattlesnake (3:07)
  6. Sozo (1:56)
  7. Slow Burn (3:38)
  8. Real Life (3:09)
  9. Time Is Cruel (3:31)
  10. Sozo Dos (1:57)
  11. The Weight of 1917 (4:13)
  12. Backlands (3:39)
  13. Uninvited (4:27)
  14. Sozo Tres (2:04)

 

 

 



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