CD Review: Dashboard Confessional – Dusk and Summer - Page 2

"So Long, So Long" appears to be Dashboard Confessional's attempt at showing a more musically driven side of the band's music. Counting Crows' Adam Duritz provides great guest vocals on the track. Duritz' vocals, along with violin strings, and circular piano lines all combine to give the song a rock feel not typical of Dashboard Confessional's previous offerings. The emotional ambiguity offered by Chris Carrabba's spare vocal delivery is also a nice change of pace.

Dashboard Confessional also prove they can rock out a little bit on tracks like "Reason to Believe" and "Rooftops and Invitations." The strongest track on Dusk and Summer, "Heaven Here," is the album's last one. Carrabba uses an organ, tinkling chimes, synth-violins, and a desperate vocal style to separate this track from all others. He screams, "Heaven is here/ Heaven is here."

I found myself wondering why more of the album's tracks weren't put together like the last song. If Chris had let his angst flow throughout the record, it may have produced a stronger piece of work. However, it is good to see Dashboard Confessional attempting to expand their musical horizons. Current fans should be pleased with Dusk and Summer and the album will probably attract new listeners with its romantic lyrics and catchy bass lines.

Article Author: Rebecca Wright

Rebecca is a freelance writer, concentrating in the areas of film, television and music criticism. Her B.A. is in the Humanities with an emphasis in film and writing.She holds an M.A. in American and British literature with an emphasis in dystopian …

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