Blueprints for the Black Market
Blueprints for the Black Market is the debut studio album by the band Anberlin. It was released on May 6, 2003,[1] barely a year after the band formed, and was the only album that was released with guitarist Joey Bruce in the band line-up. Blueprints had two singles, "Readyfuels", for which a music video was filmed and "Change the World (Lost Ones)".[2] Although the album has sold over 60,000 units,[3] its success pales compared to Anberlin's later albums, failing to chart on the Billboard 200.
| Blueprints for the Black Market | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 6, 2003 | |||
| Studio | The New Compound Studios, Seattle, Washington | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, emo | |||
| Length | 37:51 | |||
| Label | Tooth & Nail | |||
| Producer | Aaron Sprinkle | |||
| Anberlin chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Blueprints for the Black Market | ||||
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Critical reception
    
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating | 
| Allmusic | |
| CCM Magazine | B-[4] | 
| Christianity Today | |
| Cross Rhythms | |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | |
| Melodic | |
| The Phantom Tollbooth | |
Blueprints for the Black Market garnered generally positive reception from Music critics. At CCM Magazine, Brian Quincy Newcomb graded the album a B−, stating how the release "rocks assuredly, benefiting from the dynamic production of Aaron Sprinkle".[4] Johnny Loftus rated it two stars, writing how the album "lack[s] any definition" and this makes the release "an utterly pleasant bore."[1] At Christianity Today, Russ Breimeier rated it three stars, saying that the album "sounds absolutely terrific."[5] Tony Cummings of Cross Rhythms rated it a perfect ten squares, calling this "something special" that will be "A must for every rock buff."[6] At Jesus Freak Hideout, Matt Gray rated it four-and-a-half stars, proclaiming this to be a "glorious debut".[7] Bert Gangl of The Phantom Tollbooth rated it four stars, noting that the band "succeeds magnificently [...] crafting a work of sweeping, melodic, emotional, hook-laden beauty."[9] At Melodic, Pär Winberg rated the album three stars, remarking that it is an "Impressive debut."[8]
Track listing
    
- All songs written and composed by Anberlin except where noted.
 
- "Readyfuels" – 3:37
 - "Foreign Language" – 2:49
 - "Change the World (Lost Ones)" – 3:59
 - "Cold War Transmissions" – 3:12
 - "Glass to the Arson" – 3:29
 - "The Undeveloped Story" – 3:27
 - "Autobahn" – 3:25
 - "We Dreamt in Heist" – 3:17
 - "Love Song" (W. Bransby, S. Gallup, R. O'Donnell, R. Smith, P. Thompson, and L. Tolhurst) – 3:05 (The Cure cover)
 - "Cadence" – 3:17
 - "Naïve Orleans" – 4:08
 
Personnel
    
Anberlin
- Stephen Christian – lead vocals, keyboards
 - Joseph Milligan – lead guitar, vocals
 - Joey Bruce – rhythm guitar
 - Deon Rexroat – bass guitar
 - Nathan Young – drums, percussion
 
Production
- Aaron Sprinkle – production, engineering, mixing
 - J. R. McNeely – mixing
 - Troy Glessner – mastering
 - Michael Christian McCaddon – art direction, photography, design
 - David Johnson – band photography
 - Brandon Ebel – executive producer
 
References
    
- Johnny Loftus (May 6, 2003). "Blueprints for the Black Market - Anberlin | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
 - "Anberlin - Change the World (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
 - SputnikMusic -- Anberlin Never Take Friendship Personal
 - Quincy Newcomb, Brian (June 1, 2003). "Anberlin: Blueprints for the Black Market (Tooth & Nail)" (PDF). CCM Magazine. p. 43. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 25, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
 - Breimeier, Russ (May 6, 2003). "Anberlin: Blueprints for the Black Market". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on September 3, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
 - Cummings, Tony (November 1, 2003). "Review: Blueprints For The Black Market - Anberlin". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
 - Gray, Matt (May 7, 2003). "Anberlin, "Blueprints For The Black Market" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
 - Winberg, Pär (2003). "Anberlin - Blueprints for the Black Market". Melodic. Archived from the original on May 30, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
 - Gangl, Bert (April 21, 2003). "Anberlin - Blueprints for the Black Market". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
 
External links
    
- Blueprints for the Black Market at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
 
