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Album Review: Dashboard Confessional – Alter the Ending
By Megan Ritt on November 5th, 2009 in
Dashboard Confessional is something of a niche act. Most famous for lovelorn ballad “Screaming Infidelities”, Chris Carrabba’s voice has propelled many an emo fan through a tough break-up, but probably not through a lot of workouts. Dashboard’s initial release, The Swiss Army Romance, is best kept on reserve in case of emotional crisis. Nevertheless, nobody does broken-hearted like Carrabba. So even though I’m not broken up with just now, I wanted to like Carrabba’s latest release, Alter The Ending. I really did. And then I pushed play.
“Get Me Right”, the first track, starts out with a promisingly interesting guitar line, but descends quickly into sad and non-complex lyrics. This is exactly the kind of song that non-emo fans tease emo fans about, and the sad thing is, with this track, there’s really nothing the poor emo kid can say in his defense. The second track, “Until Morning”, is more of the same-shallow in the special way that attracts depressed sixteen year olds, who think they’re found the new Beatles. That particular track suffers from an overuse of technology as well, with the concentrated sad rolling off of heavy synth beats and processed percussion, ending on a terrible echo effect. Carrabba’s initial appeal was the gritty realism of some of his earlier tracks, a realism that made it sound as if the album was made with him bawling into a tape recorder in his bedroom that gave his music a special kind of intimacy. That effect is sadly gone here, torpedoed out of the water by overproduction.
“Belle of the Boulevard” is a step back towards the right direction, until it hits the chorus; it starts out quieter, showcasing Carrabba’s vocals, which under everything are really quite lovely. Unfortunately, we hit the chorus again soon enough, which puts us back into sad sugar-pop mode. “Blame it on the Changes” starts out similarly subtly, and has the bonus benefit of relying a bit more on musicality than on production values. This was the first track (out of seven, I might add) that I actually wanted to hear out.
The next offering, “Even Now”, features Carrabba at his best: over a solo guitar, with minimal percussion, and melancholy as anything. Here, at last, is the downbeat poet we came to love once upon a time, for just a moment before track nine takes us straight back to pop-music hell.
It feels bad to be harsh on this music, since it seems like Carrabba and company tried so hard on it. But then again, that seems to be the album’s biggest weakness; the songs feel belabored and overwrought. Carrabba shot to fame singing nakedly over an acoustic guitar, and while I appreciate a musician’s efforts to develop and grow, this particular evolution has not been positive growth. It’d be an improvement to see him shake off the trappings of studio-heavy processing and return to his musical origins. Why fix what wasn’t broken?
Check Out:
“Get It Right”
Buy:
Alter the Ending
TAGGED AS: Dashboard Confessional
comments (21)
ok…maybe you should listen to the album again, CC didnt start out in acoustic music so how can you say hes going away from his roots? have you nor heard further seems forever? check them out and tell me how acoustic they are! yes CC’s acoustic stuff is amazing and i love it a lot, but dusk and summer is a great album and so is alter the ending. the shade of poison trees not so much and i think we all can agree on that just by going to concerts and maybe hearing one or two songs from that album. and why is it such a bad thing that he has a “christian” song on the album, further seems forever was christian and they were amazing. and have you heard these songs live mixed with the older dashboard? i have and they seem to fit the bill quite well and mesh perfect! i think you maybe slightly deaf or just didnt listen to the album and felt like being an idiot for no reason.
“Are you kidding me?
First of all, the songs called “get Me right” not “Get It Right..” your a terrible reviewer. You talked about what 3 songs on the record, didn’t look at positive thoughts at all, just all the negative, and this is a great album.”Thank you Andrew for saying exactly what I was thinking!
“Let’s talk about Chris’ “musical origins”. Go google further seems forever and tell me how acoustic that sounds. Turns out his acoustic thing was more of a phase. A great phase that he learned from and carries with him, but his origins are in a band.
Score Card:
Alter The Ending: A. Maybe even A+.
Your Credibility: D-, maybe F.”And thank you Eric for knowing something about Chris’s music other than Dash!
As for the review… “Why fix what wasn’t broken?” Why not fix what isn’t perfect? I would say growing as an artist is more important than trying to sound like the first EP..
I do think it is over produced and I thought that about some of the tracks of Shade of the Posion Tree. You have to by the bonous version with acoustic verions and IMHO forget the regular tracks and stick with the acoustics. The acoustic version are phenomanal. The over production of some of the tracks take away the rawness that CC puts out there so well. I am glad to see the tour is going to be acoustic and can’t wait to catch a couple of shows.
Great and very accurate review.
I bought the album the same day it came out(without even listening to it first-now I know to not ever do that again), burned it to a CD, got in my car to drive to work(really excited to listen to their new stuff, was to the chorus of song #1, and was blown away(and not in a good way). WTF. I could not believe what I was hearing. I felt that I should be holding rosary beads kneeling by my bed and these lyrics were my mental thoughts asking for redemption.
I am not what you would call a religious person and this was just too much for me. I am aware the CC was previously in a Christian rock band. I really hope that DC is not going to continue on this path. I know that there is a big following, and I cant hate on religion… but please bring me back to hearing that lovely voice singing to me, and reminding me of heartbreaks of the past and current lusts of my life. If not I guess I will put it on song #1 and pray something better will come out soon.
the album is growing on me. the first track reminds me of christian bullshit which highly upsets me. Chris is my all time favorite vocalist and this album doesn’t show it at all. Even Now is the best song on the album, only because it’s deeper, and it sounds like the old albums, not this new shit
This is the most bullshite thing I have ever heard in my life. This album is incredible. If acoustic is what you are looking for, go listen to the ACOUSTIC version of the album. I mean seriously, these lyrics are so real and filled with meaningful emotion. I really think you do not know what you are talking about and this is the absolute worst review I have ever read.
Wow, I can’t believe that people are actually defending this album. This review I expected, the response, not so much.
This album is pure, unadulterated crap.
This cracked me up: “This is exactly the kind of song that non-emo fans tease emo fans about, and the sad thing is, with this track, there’s really nothing the poor emo kid can say in his defense.”
Truth! Great review.
Great album even without acoustic version (still highly recommend delux edition), just listing through all the albums dashboard has come out with and being able to relate to alot of the songs i really really enjoyed this album. “Even Now” “Water and Bridges” and “Until Morning” hit really close to home and bring nostalgic memorable feelings(Im pretty sure my Late Fiance would be shocked at me writing a review on a review about her favorit band, they really grew on me), of course any track i didnt like in the album grew on me as well. then again im not one of those close minded idiots that complain all the time about something they cant even come close to making or cant be a dynamic enough person to accept change, but just like me everyones entitled to their own opinion. I appreciate all of the albums they have come out with and am excited they came out with this because all in all i think its a great album. ide have to say i disagree with the review i am definately happy with the release and not a bit dissapointed.
While I disagree with nearly everything you wrote, it was well written and refreshing. It made me realize how most people will NOT enjoy this type of music, and it actually makes it that much better for those of us who do. Thanks for keepin’ it real, Megan <3
Review is dead on, and I’ve loved every album they’ve put out since the Drowning EP. But this, this is shite, complete over-produced run-of-the-mill garbage. I like maybe 3 of 12, poor ratio.
So I’ll be subjective because to be honest I haven’t loved the last 2 DC albums. I actually was more into Chris’ stuff when he was fronting Further Seems Forever. But I was also a major fan of the EP’s and Screaming Infidelities.
Staring off with ‘Get Me Right’ made me believe that after a time away from rock goodness they had in fact gotten it right. I love the lyrics and the rest of the record went on spinning with all the genius and hook that made DC a cult classic to begin with.
‘Alter the Ending’ gets an A, coupled with the acoustic version an A+
I don’t agree with your opinion, therefore you are a terrible writer and wrong.
lol.
I’d have to stand up for this review, although I love dashboard this review is pretty accurate. This album is just not what I want to hear from them. And I know it’ll sell tons of copies, because people will listen to anything.
Why is everyone complaining about the review??? This album is terrible and I like the past three dashboard albums. There’s maybe one song that really standouts, the rest is just plain boring.
GOOD REVIEW!
Get Me Right is a sad and non-complex lyrics? Did you even read the lyrics? It sounds like the person who reviewed the album didn’t even take the time to read the lyrics, yet proceeds to point out how non-complex they are. The reviewer doesnt even understand the songs meaning!
Congratulations, the commenters have missed the point. That’s all well and good that they’ve released an acoustic version of the album, but that is not the album being reviewed.
I’m of a mind to agree with the reviewer, this is not a good album and pop music of this vein really is sinful. The music on this album adds nothing to the art, and serves only to reiterate the same hashed-out pop cliches. Maybe the emotion Carrabba is trying to convey will come out in the acoustic versions, but, brother, I’m here to tell you that you won’t find it on this album.
Wow this is probably the worst review i have ever read. i understand DC has made bad cds before, but this is for sure not one of them. i love the fact that they made an acoustic version for all the songs too. Almost all the songs on the cd i think are really good. Definintly worth getting, my favorite songs on the cd are no news is bad news, blame it on the changes, and until morning. Dont listen to this guy, the cd is amazing
Let’s talk about Chris’ “musical origins”. Go google further seems forever and tell me how acoustic that sounds. Turns out his acoustic thing was more of a phase. A great phase that he learned from and carries with him, but his origins are in a band.
Also, there is very little of the typical emo show in “Get Me Right”. If you’d like to listen to it again, you notice it’s not about a girl. It’s actually a Christian Rock song lyrically.
Also, based on your review, you’ll be excited to hear they’ve prepared and acoustic rendition of the album. Because you can’t see that people grow up.
Score Card:
Alter The Ending: A. Maybe even A+.
Your Credibility: D-, maybe F.Have none of you listened to the accustic version? The album is amazing!
Are you kidding me?
First of all, the songs called “get Me right” not “Get It Right..” your a terrible reviewer. You talked about what 3 songs on the record, didn’t look at positive thoughts at all, just all the negative, and this is a great album.albums actually great. most people just go in expecting to hear “places you have come to fear the most” but in reality the band seem to be over that type of music making. Try considering the music in contrast to the genre its slides into. Its not like Carrabba can keep singing about teen romance when hes a maturing adult
9/10. and i look forward to catching these tunes played live!
keep up the sweet tunes
(PS i dont understand why making “pop” music is so bad? reviewer acts like its a sin?
