Spotlight On: Dashboard Confessional

So has anybody else noticed how amazing these guys are. I swear with each passing album they are getting better and better. Obviously if you know me you would know that I have been a big fan of these guys ever since their 'The Swiss Army Romance' days and I think near enough every single one of their albums have been amazing. I love their meaningful songs about real emotions and feelings. I love the intricate and effectiveness of their music and I love their passion. I loved 'The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most' and 'A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar' but, for me it is their more recent, more upbeat tracks that are their best. So this is going to be a total cheat as I am going to be talking about their past three albums in this one review. Like I said I've loved all their albums but their most recent ones hold a special place very dear to me.

So it seems the days of the more bleak emo songs such as 'Screaming Infidelities' and 'Again I Go Unnoticed' are long gone and the guys, headed by lead singer Chris Carrabba are moving into more epic upbeat songs. 'Dusk And Summer', 'The Shade Of Poison Trees' and 'Alter The Ending' are all in my favourite albums pile and I was thinking in what order would I put them in and I can't because I keep changing my mind! However my fave ever Dashboard album has to be 'Dusk and Summer' So I'll Start There.

This album for me was where I noticed the guys were changing direction with their music. The older dreary (but still amazing) songs were starting to be replaced with much more 'on the surface' happy tracks. I'm not in anyway opposed to a sad track, like I've said I love all of their songs, I just think their newer stuff is fantastic. I absolutely love the 'Dusk And Summer' tracks: 'Currents', 'Stolen', 'Slow Decay', 'Heaven Is Here', 'Vindicated' and 'Rooftops and Invitations'. each song has such meaningful and great lyrics. Each line is sung with real passion and emotion and Chris really is fantastic in his delivery! Obviously the track aren't all 'feel good, happy' tracks but the music is far more upbeat and positive.

'The Shade Of Poison Trees' album takes an even bigger step away from their usual style and this album is far more peaceful. The songs remind me of summers nights and calm. 'Clean Breaks', 'Where There's Gold ...', 'The Widows Peak' are all calmer than a lot of their old songs and are a blend of positive and negative lyrics. The words really make you think and I think that is one of the most important things music can do, make you think. I don't know how but it seems that Chris' voice had got even better with some of the notes he is hitting in this album!

Finally their most recent album 'Alter The Ending' is fantastic. (However I couldn't seem to find it anywhere here in the UK, thank god for imports right?!) Their music and song development have now somehow managed to surpass everything they have already managed to achieve. The tracks seem far more natural. Each with positive messages and well planned lyrics. 'The Belle Of The Boulevard' is one of my all time favourite tracks, and 'Everybody Learns From Disasters' is a song everyone can take meaning from. 'The Motions' is another favourite of mine.

If you like Dashboard Confessional but haven't checked them out recently they why not check out these recent albums. I promise you won't regret it! Check them out on iTunes (although last time i checked 'Alter The Ending' isn't available on UK iTunes :( but you can get it on import like i did. Obviously I urge you to check out their older stuff as well if you haven't heard of them before but my personal favourite are their more current albums!

- Tom x