I have been a big fan of Dashboard confessional for a while now; their music is truly inspiring and beautiful. There unique style of acoustic-emo has really lifted them above fellow competitors.
This album was recorded in 2002 live in front of an MTV audience despite this the quality of the album is crisp and precise and really captures the true Dashboard Confessional sound listening 2 the audience singing along fully involved in the dashboard show. So here is my review of this beautifully crafted album.
Swiss Army Romance: This song starts of with the quiet voice of Chris Carrabba introducing the album and thanking the fans for being there. He then strikes the first chord and the fans are singing along 2 the catchy melody. this song is very beautiful it really captures the true dashboard vibe .with such lines as ‘sleep with all the sheets off ,baring your mattress baring your soul". This is a very romantic song and could be one of the songs you would sing to your girlfriend. About 2:30 in the song there is a slight break up in the song which Chris stops singing and lets the audience sing the song, this is very effective for the song and it is one of my favourite parts it really lets you real the atmosphere. I like this song a lot and I would give it 8/10
The Best Deceptions: Again Carrabba introduces the song. This song starts off with a more melodic riff and its a lot slower than the first song and Chris stretches his voice a little more in this song, it has one of the catchiest chorus on the album ‘so kiss me hard, cause this will be the last time I will let you" the only let down in this song is that there is no drumming but lyrics wise this is defiantly the best crafted song on the album. It deserves at least 7/10
Remember to Breathe: Now coming to my favourite song on the whole album this song is incredible. it starts of with a brilliant riff and Carrabba has really excelled him self with the lyrics and the way he varies his voice in the chorus is awesome. this is the first song to introduce piano this is played by 2nd guitarist John Lefler , it really it’s the really of the song , and the drumming from mike marsh in this song is hardly poor. this song is highly inspirational and is well worth buying the album for ,for just this one song alone. This song is well worth 10/10 and will always be a favourite on the album for the killer lyrics, varied vocals and the sheer structure of the song.10/10
The Good Fight: Another amazingly worked song .this is more upbeat than the others and too be fair I love it. The drums really compliment the song and Chris’s vocals are also very good and the lyrics really get stuck in your yet this song really breaks down into a brilliant bridge at 1:45.This is a very good song and I would give it 9/10 it is very catchey.
The Sharp Hint of New Tears:This starts with a nice drum introduction by mike marsh who has played phonemanilly during this album it also owns a very catchy guitar riff which is simple but yet effective, as usual chris’s lyrics are ingenius and can be easily related too and the crowd really seems too get into this song this song is worth about an 7/10
So Impossible:I don’t really like this song too much but you still have to give the band some credit for how much effort they hav put into it and the amount of talent that is needed to play it.The best bit for me in this song is when again it breaks down into another bridge at around the 2 minute mark.Not 1 of my favourites but never the less good.7/10
The places you have come to fear the most: I really like this song it shows the true meanings behind dashboard confessional. The wokmanship, the lyrics and just the way they make their instruments sing. This song starts off quite slow but then kicks in too action about half way through and you can really get into the song it has a nice riff and just everything combined just makes the song complete an easy 10/10.
Turpentine Chaser: I don’t really now what too say about this song other than that it is very dashboard you can tell that it the band as soon as the music kicks in. this song starts with a slow kick off the bass drum and then the slow acoustic riff kicks in and then the brilliant voice of Carrabba. The lyrics for this song are also very well thought out, the best parts off this song is defiantly the verses they are very powerful and the range of vocals used by Chris is very good this song ends with a nice fill by marsh on drums and it is the perfect ending to a good song.8/10
Living In Your Letters: This is a very beautiful song the range of vocals what Chris uses is also very wide he really stretches himself . this is a very emotional song and would be the type you listen to when you have broke up wit your girlfriend or just need to relax. Chris points out to the fans that this is a song about some one he cares about. the cymbals are very prominent in this song they are well worked by marsh. again the lyrics are amazing the amount of thought put in is just intense .10/10 easy
For You To Notice: “I’m starting to fashion an idea in my head, where I would impress you with every single word I said". These are the first lines in this song and I think they are really good and show they intensity of dashboards thinking style. This is another brilliant song slow but is yet still upbeat. It is hard to explain but yet a brilliant song every instrument played too its best.9/10
This Brilliant Dance: Another deeply derived love song made by the band with great lyrics and instrumental presence which sets the band apart from any other. this song deserves a 7/10
Screaming Infidelities: This is defiantly their most popular song if you ask any one to name a dashboard song the odds would be it would be this one. with the introduction of piano again this song is brilliantly played and has the fans singing out the well known lyrics to the song and at parts has Chris and the band just stopping and letting the crowd sing it really gets you into the vibe of being there.10/10
Saints and Sailors: This is another upbeat song played out by the band, a catchy guitar riff backed up by good bass and drums the lyrics are again awesome I no I am saying it about every song but when you hear them you will b amazed.9/10
Again I Go Unnoticed: Chris again introduces this song with his soft withered voice and then goes straight into a jumpy guitar riff which makes you just want to get up and dance. Again mike marsh is playing the drums brilliantly this is defiantly a drummers album marsh is hitting everything right to fix in time with bass. Good song 9/10
Hands Down: Finally the last song on the album and what a way to finish the album with hands down what a song. Chris introduces it saying it is a song about the best night he’s ever had the straight after that a nice guitar riff kicks in. and into the catchy lyrics of the first verse and another nice beat by dashboard drummer mike marsh. The chorus to this song is brilliant also with the fans singing along to the melody. But the best part of this song starts at 2:00 the bridge of this song is awesome. Seriously it needs you to listen to it. Easily 10/10
Definitely one of the best albums I’ve heard in a long while.
