Top 10 Anberlin Songs

Feature Photo: Stuart Sevastos, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our top 10 Anberlin songs list showcases an American band that has made significant contributions to the alternative rock and emo music genres. Members of the group had previously played together in SaGoh 24/7 in the late 1990s, releasing two albums before pursuing a new musical direction under the Anberlin name in 2002. Using funds left over from shows with their former band, they recorded five demos with producer Matt Goldman, three of which were later reworked for their debut album. They then collaborated with producer Aaron Sprinkle, known for his work with Acceptance.

Though Anberlin’s debut album did not chart, it included well-received tracks like “Readyfuels.” The band promoted their work by touring extensively with other bands, a strategy that eventually paid off. Lineup changes occurred over time, with rhythm guitarist Joey Bruce leaving and being replaced by Nathan Strayer from The Mosaic. Strayer later returned to his previous band, and Christian McAlhaney from Acceptance joined Anberlin in 2007.

After releasing several successful albums, Anberlin announced their disbandment in 2014, intending to celebrate their legacy with the album Lowborn and a farewell tour. The band reunited in 2019 and eventually returned to recording, releasing the Silverline EP in 2022 and Convinced in 2023. In 2024, Anberlin released Vega, their eighth studio album. Stephen Christian remained part of the band but stepped back from full-time touring, with Memphis May Fire vocalist Matty Mullins joining Anberlin as a touring vocalist and contributing to the band’s new material. In 2025, Anberlin released Nevertake, a reimagined version of Never Take Friendship Personal featuring Mullins on vocals.

Critics and fans often debate Anberlin’s identity as a Christian band. Although lead vocalist Stephen Christian’s faith significantly influences his life and songwriting, he has repeatedly explained that Anberlin should not be labeled a Christian rock band, noting that not every member shared the same beliefs and that the group wanted its music to reach listeners regardless of faith.

Our list explores the best songs from across Anberlin’s catalog, highlighting the band’s impactful and enduring presence in the music scene.

#10 – Readyfuels

Leading off our top 10 Anberlin songs is “Readyfuels,” a standout track from the band’s debut album, Blueprints for the Black Market. Composed by the band members, this rock anthem played a crucial role in putting Anberlin on the map, despite their debut album not charting. The song’s compelling guitar riffs helped establish the band as a formidable force in the rock and roll scene.

#9 – Stranger Ways

“Stranger Ways” was the first single released from Anberlin’s 2014 album Lowborn. Drawing on strong 1980s influences, the song combines enchanting melodies with dark lyrics, contributing to the eclectic and chaotic feel Stephen Christian used to describe Lowborn. The song’s somber theme effectively brings the album’s unique feel to life.

#8 – Someone Anyone

Featured on Anberlin’s 2012 album Vital, “Someone Anyone” is a powerful alternative rock track. Stephen Christian explained that the song was inspired by the Egyptian revolution and by the idea that change can come through nonviolent protest rather than weapons. The song reflects a stance against war and violence while emphasizing the possibility of peaceful change amid political unrest.

#7 – Godspeed

When rhythm guitarist Joey Bruce left Anberlin, Stephen Christian later attributed the split to lifestyle differences. “Godspeed,” however, addresses a broader theme: the destructive excesses and self-destructive mythology surrounding rock stars. Christian has described the song as drawing on stories from rock history involving figures whose lives were damaged or ended by drugs and excess. One of the verses references Sid Vicious and the Chelsea Hotel, reinforcing the song’s warning about the darker side of rock and roll mythology.

#6 – Inevitable

Number six on our top 10 Anberlin songs list is the nostalgic song “Inevitable.” Featured on the band’s album Cities, the song blends two different kinds of love. Stephen Christian explained that the verses draw from childhood memories with his brother, including the cardboard boxes they played with as kids, while the chorus turns toward romantic commitment and his wife. The line about wanting to be someone’s last first kiss gives the song its enduring sense of intimacy and devotion.

#5 – The Unwinding Cable Car

If we were all completely honest about our current feelings, few people would describe themselves as happy with their lives. Instead, most would speak of their struggles, particularly the fears and concerns about what tomorrow may bring. “The Unwinding Cable Car” from Anberlin’s 2007 album Cities encapsulates this sentiment. The lyrics resonate with the idea of a person who is preoccupied with life’s problems and needs reassurance, grace, and help finding a way through the darkness. The song remains one of Anberlin’s most affecting acoustic pieces.

#4 – Unstable

Anberlin exemplifies true artistry with their creation of the song “Unstable,” a track recorded during the Vital sessions. The song was originally treated as bonus material rather than part of the core album sequence and was later incorporated into the expanded Devotion release. Its piano-led arrangement and atmospheric production showcase the band’s ability to transform a softer musical idea into a poetic, emotionally charged piece. The lyrics can be heard as an appeal to trust one’s own inner voice rather than becoming overwhelmed by outside pressures.

#3 – Paperthin Hymn

While Never Take Friendship Personal may not be Anberlin’s most acclaimed album, “Paperthin Hymn” resonated deeply with listeners, becoming one of the band’s most beloved songs. Stephen Christian wrote the song in memory of his grandmother, who died while he was in college. Death and grief also surrounded the album’s recording period, including the illness of guitarist Joseph Milligan’s sister, but her battle with cancer was connected to a different piece from the record, “A Heavy Hearted Work of Staggering Genius.” The emotional weight surrounding that era helped make “Paperthin Hymn” one of Anberlin’s most heartfelt and enduring songs.

#2 – Impossible

“Impossible,” a compelling track from Anberlin’s album Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place, explores the contradictions and difficulties of love. Stephen Christian described the song as a summation of his experiences with relationships over the years: the conversations, the act of falling in love, the ecstasy, the failures, and the arguments that can repeat themselves. The song’s tension between attraction and frustration gives “Impossible” much of its emotional force.

#1 – Feel Good Drag

Topping our list of the top 10 Anberlin songs is the track “Feel Good Drag” from the band’s album New Surrender. An earlier version had appeared as “The Feel Good Drag” on 2005’s Never Take Friendship Personal, but Anberlin re-recorded the song for New Surrender in 2008. The newer version became Anberlin’s most successful single, receiving extensive airplay and reaching number one on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart.

Lead vocalist Stephen Christian explained that the song’s theme revolves around entering a relationship while knowing in the back of your mind that it is destined to fail. That combination of temptation, naivety, and foreknowledge gives the song its tension. Coupled with its compelling composition, “Feel Good Drag” became a defining hit for Anberlin.