Free Your Mind is the second EP off Hopeless Records for the band Anarbor, it’s a follow up to The Natural Way which was released back in August of 08. Free Your Mind features four brand new songs, two revamped songs from The Natural Way, and a new and significantly improved version, of “Where the Wild Things Are (Monsters)”.

The EP starts off with an oh- so seductive song “Let the Games Begin”. These boys may only have been around for 19 years, but, you get the notion that they’ve experience only things Chuck Bass has seen at such a young age—which doesn’t seem to lessen as it transitions into “The Brightest Green”. This song is slightly more complicated. You don’t really know whether the lead singer, Slade, is talking about a girl or his favorite girl; Mary Jane. Who knows? Either way, we understand what you’re getting at.

Now, we’re at the newer version of “Where the Wild Things Are (Monsters)”. Compare and contrast time. The more up to date version adds more harmonies, better guitar rifts, and might be a little faster than the original. Since the band has gown up significantly, so has their sound. And this hasn’t gone unnoticed, through their improved musicianship , the re-recording speaks for itself. A classic that shall remain with all of its integrity intact.

Awwww, the sweeter side of Anarbor comes out in “Halfway Sober” and “You and I’. Not quite a ballad, but songs that you wouldn’t get made fun of if you put them onto a mixed tape you made for that special someone. Both have romantic notions of "I am not myself without you".

My favorite song off the EP is “Passion for Publication”. It’s so cleverly written and I can never get the lyrics out of my head. It makes you think about all the times you’ve drank way too much and all the things you face the morning after. No one is perfect and this goes to show that we all have demons.

“Always Dirty Never Clean”, is an anthem against The Man. But you understand where they are coming from. Being in the music industry at young age, you get defensive. I believe them when they say “music is what you hear and not what you see.” They’ve made a strong point and are sticking to their guns on this one. With so many bands getting inflated egos over tiny pieces of fame, it’s nice to see that Anarbor is staying grounded.

Needless to say, these boys clearly know what they are doing. They have the catchy lyrics, melodies, and beats to prove it. Not to mention the faces to go along with them. I’ve tried to compare Anarbor to other bands—but I haven’t even come close to something as unique and intriguing as to what these boys are producing. Expect nothing less than amazing from these four gentlemen in the future, I can see nothing but the Brightest Green for them.

-Stephanie Lancaster for CashDolla Industries