The follow-up album to "Swiss Army Romance," this newest release from Dashboard Confessional is fantastic. If you haven't heard Dashboard Confessional before, it's the project of one main guy Chris Carrabba and is predominately acoustic guitar. This time around the music features more drum and bass accompaniment than the first, but if you think that changes things negatively, think again.
The first song, "The Brilliant Dance," sets the mood and is a fantastic song with soaring vocals. One of the nice surprises is that a few of the tracks are re-vamped versions of previously released songs that have had backing drums and bass added. "Saints and Sailors" is a great song that will get you up on your feet dancing in step and will probably become trapped in your head for awhile (not that this is a bad thing). The title track, "The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most," and "The Bitter Pill," are also very good. A few of the songs have violin on them which helps to create a mood of reflection.
The artwork is also worth mentioning, capturing an electric toy car racing set as it has never been photographed before. The whole CD has been put together well and the bottom line is that it is good. If you liked "Swiss Army Romance," or if you want to hear well-written music that's played with passion, go pick this up.
A+
Other coverage for this album
The Rebel Base 2001Reviewed by AmberDashboard Confessional is basically one guy with a guitar and some extra "background" people added in, which makes this an excellent solo effort. You may recognize Dashboard's main man, Chris Carrabba. He broke away from emo/punk band Further Seems Forever and this is what resulted, Dashboard Confessional. This album is mainly based on love and heartbreak. The album starts with "The Brilliant…Decapolis 2001Reviewed by Tom BastianPart of me wishes Chris Carrabba was still with Further Seems Forever. But another part of me is happy that Dashboard Confessional is doing so well. Actually "so well" doesn't even seem to begin to explain how well Chris's Dashboard Confessional is doing. Starting out on Fiddler Records, then moving onto Drive-Thru Records (MCA) then finally ending up on Vagrant Records, Dashboard has something…Decapolis 2001Reviewed by JamesIf there is one thing that sets this disk apart from the last four thousand acoustic-driven albums that have come out in the last hour it is this: Carrabba shatters the assumption that "acoustic" means "folk music". Bravo! Dashboard Confessional's latest full-length is testament to the fact that you don't have to emulate Bob Dylan (eat that David Gray) to write stuff that would do well on MTV…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Ken MuellerHave you ever had your heart ripped out and stomped on? Have you ever been dumped big time? Have you ever had someone you are deeply in love with cheat on you? Ever been told "I only want to be friends, I'm not ready for a relationship?" If so, then you will either love this disc or want to stay away from it at all costs. Chris Carrabba, the driving force behind Dashboard Confessional, has…Similar sounding releases
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