Dashboard Confessional
The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most

Vagrant Records
Release Date: March 20, 2001

There's no doubt about it, this CD is a must have. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. If you don't have this CD go out and buy it. It's worth 15 bucks, hell, it's worth 20. This album has everything you can imagine (without the electric guitar). The lyrics are amazing, vocals are amazing, the best beats that will keep your foot tapping until it falls asleep and goes dead numb. If there's one CD out there that you have to own, it's this one. All 30 minutes worth of this CD is absolutely breathtaking.

To any of you that have heard of Chris Carrabba's other projects such as Further Seems Forever, the emo/core band that truly will blow you away with the same genuine vocals and lyrics that Chris shows in his first full album, The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most. You know that Chris is not a one-hit wonder. Every single song he sings you can feel coming from his gut. Every song on this CD is filled with such passion and heartbreak that you can almost cry from listening to the lyrics. From the beginning song The Brilliant Dance, Chris writes and sings about a break-up (possibly one of his, I think so).

"And the picture frames are facing down and the ringing from this empty sound is deafening and keeping you from sleep. And breathing is a foreign task and thinking's just too much to ask and you're measuring your minutes by a clock that's blinking eights."

These words, as you can clearly see, are from the heart and the incredible use of them is astonishing to any human ear. It's not just rambling b.s. like many other bands and CD's. You know the routine; buy a CD and it starts out good, but with each passing song you think, "Didn't I hear this already? I'm pretty sure I did when it was track number 1... and 2... and 3..."

OK, on with the review. On track 5, Saints and Sailors, Chris sings about a break-up once again. He sings as if it was the girl that got away in each song.

"Waiting here with hopes the phone will ring and I'm thinking awful things and I'm pretty sure that few would notice. And this apartment is starving for an argument. Anything at all to break the silence."

If you are looking for a more heavy, loud song, there's track 8, Again I Go Unnoticed. Personally, this is my favorite song on the album. He starts out with amazing lyrics (what else is new?) that pulled me in from the start.

"So quiet, another wasted night, the television steals the conversation, exhale, another wasted breath, again it goes unnoticed."

Now if those aren't amazing lyrics then, what the hell is your problem? If you don't think those are unbelievable, then you must not have a pulse...or are just a focking idiot.

Now I know I can write a lot more on this band, but its five a.m and I'm tired. If you're still convinced that acoustic emo isn't your thing, then you are a wuss because everyone can love this CD. It doesn't matter if you are a Slipknot fan or a N'stynk fan. This CD is the CD of the year in my opinion and even if you hate emo go out and listen to it. If you hate them, Vacant records will reimburse you for the CD. (yeah, don't count on that). Get the focking album mofo's... you won't be disappointed.

XROXX.com Album Rating: XXXXX (5 out of 5 possible X's)

Love/Hate/Disagree With This Review? Write Your Own or Comment on the Album! -> CLICK HERE!!!

Danny Chan
danny.chan@XROXX.com