Dashboard Confessional Albums (5)
'The Wire Tapes, Vol. 1'
Release Date 1/1/2007
Tracks 11
Label Vagrant
See Album Tracklist and Review
'The Shade of Poison Trees'
Release Date 1/1/2007
Tracks 12
Label Shock
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What The Critics Say
As the initial frontman of Further Seems Forever, Chris Carrabba had already established his bona fide rock credentials by the time Dashboard Confessional took off in the early 2000s. He was an authentic rocker who felt enough confidence not to rock, who didn't cry when tattoo needles pierced his skin but openly wept during cathartic performances. Those live shows were the crux of Carrabba's manic appeal; while spinning tales of heartbreak and mistrust, he would invariably call upon the support of his audience, asking them to sing along with his tremulous voice. Dashboard Confessional didn't spawn a scene as much as it did a support group -- a gathering of loyal fans who, like their emocore demigod, were unafraid to make their misery known. But time moves on, tastes change, and acoustic-fueled solo albums can't sustain an artist forever. Dashboard Confessional steadily grew in size and sound, with Carrabba assembling a permanent band and adding electric guitars to the group's repertoire. By the time Dusk and Summer arrived in 2006, pianos and violins had also been thrown into the mix, with Carrabba working alongside famed producers Don Gilmore and Daniel Lanois to fashion a summery brand of adult contemporary pop/rock. It made for an engaging listen, but Dusk and Summer still seemed like the product of someone other than Carrabba. Perhaps that's why The Shade of Poison Trees follows so closely on Summer's heels and marks a return to Dashboard's earlier material, with nary a violin in sight. Carrabba may be reclaiming his old sound in an attempt to reclaim his old audience, and while such intentions would be a far cry from the D.I.Y. spirit that fueled Dashboard's humble beginnings, the songs are good enough to make the change worthwhile. It's been awhile since Carrabba last ditched a wide, expansive sound in favor of something smaller; he's grown up since then, and Poison Trees takes strength in the maturity of its 30-something songwriter. While his emotions still run rampant, they're smartly controlled and constructed into concise pop songs -- only one of which exceeds the three-minute mark. If a track like "The Rush" had appeared on the band's debut album, its life-affirming chorus would have been shouted by Carrabba's rickety tenor. Here, however, the singer flips into a stylish falsetto to hit the high notes, with harmonies and cyclical guitar riffs anchoring the passion below. That's exactly what has been missing from Dashboard Confessional's catalog thus far -- an anchor -- and The Shade of Poison Trees is tastefully grounded by such pop sensibilities. "Thick as Thieves" is as catchy as anything Carrabba has ever written, with minimalist electric guitars leaving an uncluttered path for a genuinely irresistible melody. The song is flanked by two of the album's best acoustic numbers -- "Where There's Gold..." and "Keep Watch for the Mines" -- both of which relocate arena rock to the cozy confines of a coffeehouse. Those highlights comprise the first quarter of the album, and even though Poison Trees loses some steam toward its conclusion, its maturity sets Dashboard Confessional back on track. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Dusk and Summer -- a cohesive album divergent from the modern-rock collection of songs on 2003's A Mark, a Brand, a Mission, a Scar -- finds Dashboard Confessional's path to maturity leading them, weirdly enough, back to their roots. Whether or not this is a reaction to mainstream success, Dashboard is still very much a full band, but the album is gentler and falls much closer to the feeling of The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most. Not only does it include more tracks with simpler arrangements that occasionally now include piano and violin, the general sonic vibe resembles more of its earlier work, just more seasoned. Though the lead track and single, "Don't Wait," has one of the most grating choruses on the album -- and the song also owns a weird underlying air of "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer -- the remainder of the suitably titled Dusk and Summer is very much full of satisfying heartfelt anthems that reflect its early evening beach artwork. Chris Carrabba's lyrical touchstone is again dominated by relationships, but that invigorating first date from 2003's "Hands Down" must have really taken off, since broken-heart brooding only appears sparingly. The gentle "Stolen" is a beautifully sincere song where the repeated "You have stolen my heart" is so tenderly spoken, it's like Carrabba is taking care to not wake his sweetheart sleeping beside him. Leaving one's hometown is delicately reflected upon in the piano-tinged "So Long, So Long," where Counting Crows' Adam Duritz provides wonderful guest vocals, while the band proves it can rock out in tracks like "Reason to Believe" and "Rooftops and Invitations." And damn if "Slow Decay" isn't the dirtiest, darkest song Dashboard Confessional has written to date ("Heaven Here" might have been a contender with its trashy percussion, but the song quickly goes soft and remains a muddled mess that never quite gets worked out). Dashboard Confessional may have been embraced by the masses with the über-success of Spider-Man 2's "Vindicated," but Dusk and Summer doesn't care about that. It's an album from a matured Carrabba (now in his early thirties) directly to his grassroots fan base. He may have grown beyond six-strings and a wooden stool, but when the result is this good, who can really complain? ~ Corey Apar, All Music Guide
'The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most'
Release Date 3/20/2001
Tracks 10
Label Vagrant
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
It's a familiar situation really: Emotional indie rock boy starts off in moderately tough-guy band (in this case rockers Further Seems Forever), gets fed up, and realizes that he can write some pretty heartfelt acoustic tunes that the kids might actually enjoy. For Chris Carrabba, the dream of too many late-night troubadours actually came true, and on his second full-length he's got plenty of heartache to go along with some fairly catchy songs. Performing with a foot firmly entrenched in the indie and emo scenes, Carrabba has some obvious influences, especially the nearly identical Get Up Kids offshoot the New Amsterdams. Nonetheless, he does have his own strong vocal presence and, while a bit cheesy, his lyrics are the perfect companion to a night of overwrought teenage emotions. Relying mostly on the acoustic guitar, The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most also features a full, though subdued, backing band on a number of tracks, an addition that gives the record some depth and makes it a bit easier to put up with. Carrabba is smart enough to know a good hook when he hears it, and even when he's bogged down by the self-involved and down-on-his-luck sentiments that cripple the record, he's still knocking on the door of the radio-friendly pop hit. This is a record made with a specific audience in mind, and it's easy to see why many might abhor Dashboard Confessional's spurned teenage tones, but if you're under 20 and plan on staying in your room all night crying about that girl who just dumped you, then there is no point in looking further than this record. ~ Peter J. D'Angelo, All Music Guide
'The Swiss Army Romance'
Release Date 11/14/2000
Tracks 11
Label Drive-Thru
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What The Critics Say
A solo effort from Chris Carrabba, Swiss Army Romance was essentially acoustic emo. Aside from using an acoustic guitar, however, Carrabba sticks to the usual emo tropes , with personal lyrics that impressionable teenagers would find easy to relate to. His voice is powerful and heartful, and he displays how beautiful an acoustic guitar can sound, but he does brush against the samey sound that many emo artists encounter. What makes Swiss Army Romance stand out are the excellent songs, spotlighted by "Screaming Infidelities" and "Living in Your Letters." ~ Zachary Curd, All Music Guide
