Artist: Anberlin Album: New Surrender Label: Tooth & Nail Records Rating: 7 out of 10

New Surrender, Anberlin's first album since signing with major label Universal Republic Records, finds the group moving in an even poppier direction than 2007's excellent Cities. The acoustic-led sing-along "Younglife" could practically be a lost Third Eye Blind song, while "Haight St." bops along with the emo-pop energy and hooks reminiscent of Motion City Soundtrack, or even early Fall Out Boy. Some fans may be a little put off by the change, and I'll admit, it took a couple listens before Surrender really hooked me. But having spent some time with the record, I'd say this may be the band's most memorable and diverse collection of music to date. Opener "The Resistance" is a classic Anberlin album-opener, all distorted riffs and fist-pumping energy, while "Retrace" is simply a beautifully crafted song – and probably Universal's best shot at breaking the band with pop radio. Surrender's strongest track, though, might be its last: the epic (by Anberlin standards) "Misearbile Visu (Ex Malo Bonum)." Moody, keyboard-driven verses – featuring uncharacteristically cryptic lyrics from frontman Stephen Christian – give way to stunning, cinematic choruses that make this unlike anything else in the group's catalog. I was nervous about the quality of the songs when Surrender's first single was announced to be a re-recorded version of Never Take Friendship Personal's "Feel Good Drag." But it's proved to be Anberlin's mainstream breakthrough, slowly creeping its way up the modern rock charts into the top 5. For every underground Christian band that flourishes after making the jump to a major label (MxPx, P.O.D.), there's a Juliana Theory or Project 86 that undeservedly falls through the cracks. Judging by the popularity of "Drag," and the strength of the material on Surrender, my money's now on Anberlin to be one of the success stories. – Todd Thatcher