New Music Tuesday- 6/27/06

Normally, this will not happen. I decided to do my new music blog a day in advance only because it is my birthday today and some friends of mine got me the new dashboard confessional CD. The same CD that was supposed to be released tomorrow. They said they found it at the Last record store. Weird!! I guess they put it on the shelf early. Anyway, I've been fortunate to listen to this album and actually give you a critique before you buy it. This is my only new release for this Tuesday!! So here it is...
The new CD is called Dusk and Summer. It has been highly anticipated after Dashboard's very successful, "A mark, a brand , a mission, a scar". Many fans liked this album, but longed for Chris Carraba to return to his acoustic, emo roots. I partly agree with these fans. While I enjoy his electric side, I truly do miss the simplicity and beauty of The places we have come to fear the most. Unfortunately, these fans will be very disappointed. Dusk and Summer has one acoustic song on it, the self-titled one, and even that song has that "Highly Produced" sound that hurts the track more than helps it. In fact, the whole album could be looked at as "Highly-Produced". This is just a different Dashboard than we're used to. Some of the songs are definitely going to take some getting used to. With all that negativity being said, I don't hate the album. It has some great songs on it, one of which entitled "So Long, So Long", features Adam Duritz, Counting Crows lead man. And Carraba continues to grab you with his thoughtful lyrics and strong, emo voice that can't be matched. The subjects range from Seizing the day to broken love to sex, picking up where Hands Down left off. There is also a song entitled, Slow Decay, about war and how it effects individuals who make it out alive.
In conclusion, I'll say this. I like the album. I have to give more it more time to see how much, but I definitely like it. Does it come close to his last two projects? Unfortunately, No. But it does have it's own beauty that I think we'll love if we give it a chance. So, I would encourage everyone to purchase it and be patient with it. Don't expect the Dashboard of old. If you do, you will be sorely disapointed. Instead look at it with an optimistic perspective. Alas, we can always hope Carraba will pull out that dusty, acoustic guitar and give us a few more emo songs one day. Until then, I guess it all fades with Dusk and Summer.