ARTIST: Creed
ALBUM: Full Circle
LABEL: Wind-up Records
RELEASE DATE: October 27, 2009
Break’s Over, Back to Work!
Photo by Wind-up Records
Written by Daniel Richter
I welcomed Creed’s latest CD with arms wide open. Unfortunately, I was left with a disappointing emptiness.
Creed released Full Circle on October 27, 2009 which is their first full length album since Greatest Hits in 2004. This album marks the return of the band as a whole, including original bassist, Brian Marshall. The five year hiatus was due, in part, to lead vocalist Scott Stapp’s problems with alcohol.
If you were unaware that Stapp was a recovering alcoholic, you’d get it by the end of the second song on this record. The straight forward and simplistic lyrics are obvious and boring. The way Stapp delivers his message of recovery is almost insulting to the listener.
The music, however, is surprisingly heavy. The opening two songs provide angry metal riffs, and sharp shredding solos. With drum lines that keep you tapping on your desk with ferociousness, the band truly makes a testimony to their talents. Unfortunately, there are two core problems.
The first problem is Scott Stapp. In the song, “Rain” he claims that he is “washing everything away”. We get it. You’re an alcoholic looking to rid yourself of the ugly past. In the next song, “Away in Silence” Stapp desperately pleads with his fans, “don’t give up on us”. Along with poor word choice, the lyrics are obnoxiously repetitive. He turns a two minute song, into an insufferable four minutes. Stapp also uses the same metaphor of “stumbling” and “falling” throughout seven songs on this album. In a couple of the songs Stapp tries to growl like a true rocker, but fails miserably. His delivery is weak and childish; and he cannot grab a hold of his own style. Stapp is out of his element during the entire record.
The second problem is that the band itself struggles with identity issues and cannot decide what type of record to make. It bounces back and forth from heavier musical influences like metal riffing guitars and haunting drum lines, to late the 90’s alternative rock that we have all come to know as Creed. The album is also peppered with predictable acoustic guitar intros. Each song -whether of metal or 90’s influence- seems to follow a basic pattern of intro, verse, chorus, repeat. Nothing on this album blows the listener away, or catches you off guard. With that said, lead and rhythm guitarist, Mark Tremonti really displays his personal influences and skill on the six string on Full Circle.
Tremonti has stated that he is, “very proud of the solos on this record”, as well he should be. The aggressive guitar work is the only thing in this album that offers any driving emotions. “The Song you Sing” ends with pig squeals that lead into another ferocious hair band solo. The slow melodic rock is fine, but it’s when Tremonti lets loose that this album really shines.
Creed should have used their five year break to look for a talented vocalist/song writer. If this were an instrumental mix tape of late 90’s and early 2000’s rock, it’d be great. But it’s not. Scott Stapp should stick with what he does best… drinking. And, the band should find a frontman that will lead them in the right direction.