Allen Orr - what are you doing? Are you channeling Ben Gibbard’s voice circa seven years ago...when he told us of Coney Island’s winter schedule and gave us reasons not to live there? You could have told me that half of the tracks on this self-titled album by Brooklynites Anthem In were old school Death Cab tracks that I missed out on in my youth and I would have believed you. The good thing about this is I would have been happy to believe you. Though occasionally lacking in originality, the songs are all very good, and after a few listens it's fair to say that Anthem In is a very talented bunch.
With a voice that sounds like a ride on The Tilt-a-Whirl and pounding it out on the Wurlitzer is Orr’s band co-founder Ashley Proffitt, belting out tunes like a jilted Southern Belle. Her voice alone makes this debut worth listening to. Start with track number two, "Down" as Orr sings "everybody/ everybody gets down." You may just feel like dancing around a little bit and cheering yourself up…as soon as you get past wondering where you've heard his voice before.
--Daniela Scrima [June 29, 2008]
