Creed

Item: Human Clay
Author: Josh Marihugh

Human Clay

(1999)

Reviewed by Josh Marihugh

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Label Wind-up RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth1999

alternative metal hard rock post-grunge

After Creed's label debut last year, many people began asking the question, "Is Creed a Christian band?" The band answered in the negative; lead singer and songwriter Scott Stapp was raised in a Christian home and the band says they are all deeply spiritual, but they're not out to proclaim a Christian agenda.

But, it seems, someone forgot to give that message to this album, for the clarity of message it contains is amazing. Spiritual thinking and images coupled with a compelling turn of phrase permeate the album, but two tracks in particular stand out. The first is the lead radio single, "Higher." In the verses Stapp expresses a longing for a "better place," and the place he dreams of and desires is made clear by the imagery used in the chorus.

Can you take me higher
To the place where blind men see?
Can you take me higher
To the place with golden streets?

The other truly noteworthy track is "Faceless Man." The tale it tells is of a man who doesn't quite know how to handle a God who is infinitely bigger than he can understand. It seems to be not so much that the Man is faceless, as that His face is incomprehensible as such.

Next time I see this face I'll say
I choose to live for always
So won't you come inside And never go away
And I stand, Lord God I stand,
against the Faceless Man.

This is a musically solid, as well as a lyrically sound album, reminiscent of the best of modern-rock radio. Influences include Stone Temple Pilots, with perhaps a bit of Soundgarden. And yet the band's driving rock never sounds derivative. It is great to see this band's track burning up the airwaves. It's the best thing on the radio, and one of the best albums I've heard in a long time.

5 tocks