Full Circle

Back in 2001, Creed was on top of the music world. "My Sacrifice" was sitting on the top of the charts, and seemingly nothing could stop the juggernaut. Yet 3 years later...they were gone. Split up. Done for. Lead singer Scott Stapp did a solo album, and the remaining Creed members recruited a new singer and formed Alter Bridge. Alter Bridge found success as a harder Creed with a different voice at the front. Scott Stapp's album, although going platinum, was a dud in most people's opinion. All band members said Creed would never reform. Essentially, an Eagles "Hell Freezing Over" type of statement.

In 2008, however, rumors began to surface of a Creed reunion and tour. Then with news that Alter Bridge lead singer Myles Kennedy was going to work on Alter Bridge's third album, a reformed Creed seemed like a fairytale wish that never came true. Fans rejoiced however when Creed's website was re-launched in April of this year with a concert tour trailer and the words "Coming Summer 2009." Soon after the news of a tour surfaced, news came of a new Creed album as well. Talk about a dream come true. Creed was back, and was releasing new music to top it all off.

Fast forward to October, and here we have it: the Creed album that fans have waited 8 years for. And the kicker? Everybody from the original Creed lineup is back, and yes, that includes bassist Brian Marshall. Titled "Full Circle," the name of the album references Creed's full circle journey; breaking up and subsequently reuniting.

The first taste of new music, the album opener and first single "Overcome," is a welcome sound. The heaviest single Creed has ever released besides "Bullets," 'Overcome' is a guitar-driven song that showcases Mark Tremonti's master skills with a 6-string. Said to be a source of contention before the band's break-up, Tremonti goes wild on this album, ripping solos way more than he ever did on previous albums.

The next track, "Bread of Shame" is another prime example of the heavier-sounding Creed. Drummer Scott Phillips incorporates something never seen in a Creed CD...true double-bass kicks in the opening licks of the song. If you were a fan of Creed's heavier work like "What If", then the first two songs off the album are right down your alley. 'Promise me fame, and I'll survive on this bread of shame' sings Stapp, stabbing at fake Hollywood-type people, or just maybe himself as he was before the band broke up in 2004.

You know Creed can't go an entire album with a ballad...as their biggest hit was a ballad. "Arms Wide Open" was rock music's biggest ballad in the late 90's. Full Circle's third track 'A Thousand Faces' hearkens back to the "My Own Prison" days as Mark Tremonti sings backing vocals on this ballad.

Song #4 on Full Circle goes back to the heavy sound, and actually sounds like an Alter Bridge tune to me. Unfortunately a forgettable tune, "Suddenly" will appeal to the hardcore Creed fans.

Single number two off Full Circle, "Rain" is one of the lightest melodies on the album. Sounding very Staind-ish, Rain is sure to be a hit on the adult top 40 charts.

Keeping with the ballad mode, the next song "Away in Silence" just overdoes the soft ballad sound. Sounding very mainstream polished, it is another forgettable tune.

Track 7, named "Fear" is a nice hard rocker that demonstrates the new Creed sound. Mark Tremonti really shows his skills both in the main riff and guitar solo.

Starting off with the sounds of violins, another ballad surfaces in the next track "On My Sleeve." Actually a good ballad off the album, this one sounds like a chart topper. Varying between acoustic plucking and full-on distorted guitars during the chorus, this song is one of the better soft songs Creed has ever done.

Finally we come to the album's title track. "Full Circle" is a bluesy tune that sounds nothing quite like anything Creed has done before. Yet another quality song.

The tenth song "Time" sounds like Creed took a page right out of the 3 Doors Down playbook. "Time" sounds like it came right off 3DD's latest album, just with different vocals. I'm not saying that's necessarily bad, but Creed won't win any originality awards with critics.

The shining moment of the entire album is the 11th track. "Good Fight" sounds like Creed at its pinnacle. Featuring down-tuned grungy sounding guitars and lyrics that are made to inspire, "Good Fight" is quickly becoming one of my favorite Creed tunes of all time.

The album closer, "The Song You Sing" is a mid-tempo tune that is a fitting close to the CD. Following the same formula that made them famous, it starts off acoustically and rises in volume as the song progresses.

You have to give credit to Creed. Most bands this decade have flip-flopped through sounds like crazy, yet Creed sticks to their tried and true formula. Riding the unmistakable vocals of Scott Stapp and the electric guitar master himself, Mark Tremonti, 'Full Circle' is a competent album in today's flooded market of alternative rock and metal bands. Not their best effort of their career, it is damn good for a band that hasn't released new material in 8 years.

4 stars out of 5.

Quite possibly the largest pile of BS ever...

Normally I respect other people's views on their choice of music. Case in point, all my roommates at college are either into rap or country. As long as they don't diss on my music, I don't diss on theirs. I am a DIEHARD rock and metal music fan...growing up I started out on country, moved to pop, then classic rock, and finally modern rock and metal.

So today as I am surfing the web, I come across an article on FOX News Business' website. Here's the link: http://emac.blogs.foxbusiness.com/2009/10/23/country-music-is-the-new-rock-%E2%80%98n-roll/?test=faces

This is possibly the largest pile of bullshit I have ever heard in my life. Written in a totally biased way, this is one of the most public insults to rock music and their fans that I have read. The article attempts to say that country music is becoming more popular than rock music. While I do not dispute that opinion, the writer did by no means have to take a literary shit on rock music.

"Could it be that music listeners are sick and tired of the fulsome, industrial-strength self-dramatization, the twisted acting out in rock ‘n roll songs that take on a relentless, infantile, perverse logic all their own?" Ok hold up. The twisted acting out? Relentless, infantile, perverse logic? Please elaborate on what country music has been for the past decade then? In a genre of music that glorifies getting drunk all the time, going to the bar to drown your sorrows, and echoes a feeling of self pity...the writer wants to accuse ROCK music of infantile logic? Please...

Next argument.

"Could it be that music listeners no longer want any part of the excruciatingly annoying culture of excessive, self-righteous self-indulgence, of narcissistic self-entitlement cemented in many genres of rock 'n roll?"

Oh dear God forgive me for wanting to listen to a genre of music that puts confidence at the forefront. I guess I better go feel sorry self rightous pity while drinking all the beer and whiskey I can throw down my throat. That's what 90% of country music is. Dare we attempt to put on a brave front and face our problems and announce that no one or nothing is going to get us down. Guess we all better go down to the bar and cry on each other's shoulder's all night then.

"Where listening to these songs is like chewing on Reynolds Wrap tin foil? Where you have to apply Novocain to your nerve endings as soon their songs are over?"

Ok....so you don't like loud music. At least you have to apply Novocain. Explain why I want to grab a handgun and blow my head off after listening to all the Debbie Downer 'OH WOE IS ME!' country music songs. Maybe some people use rock music as a motivator...maybe some people don't want to be lulled to sleep when they listen to music.

"Is it that consumers want more, they want to connect, they want music that quite purely and simply tells stories that move the heart and provide a compelling narrative about the human condition?"

Seriously...I mean c'mon. If I wanted to go hear a sad story and bawl my eyeballs out like a 14-year old girl who got dumped at the school dance I'd watch Lifetime TV. Country music, for the most part, is as sad and bummed out as you can get. Perhaps you prefer to wallow in the gutter of self pity, but I prefer to do something about the situation and listen to music that wants to kick somebody's ass.

And on the topic of artist callaboration....

"Fraser notes that when he produced the Mike Douglas talk show in the '60s, “it was hard to book a rock star with another rock star on the show to perform, because none of them wanted to share the stage with each other.”

HAH! HAH! HAH! If you have to use an example from FORTY years ago to try to prove your point, then that's pretty damn bad. Ok lets see...Fred Durst discovered Staind and put them on the map...Staind discovered Cold and put them on the map...oh yea these rock acts sure are selfish. Ever heard of Default or Theory of a Deadman? Chances are you wouldn't if it hadn't been for Nickelback's frontman Chad Kroeger pushing and promoting these bands. Rock bands love to help fellow bands, and do so when they can. Oh yea....rock music is so selfish. Not.

"According to Inside Radio, country music is by far the most popular format for programming. As of August 2009, 2,014 stations were programming country while 1,323 offered Rock, including Classic and Alternative Rock;

For the last decade or so, country music listening nationwide has delivered a steady 77.3 mn adults each week, according to the radio-ratings agency Arbitron;

In 2008, based upon total earnings, three of the top 10 acts were country--namely, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts and Toby Keith, according to Forbes Magazine;"

Ok, so I'm not arguing that there are successful country acts and that the genre itself is not doing well. But let me point out something. Have you noticed that those 3 acts are so successful because they moved TOWARDS a ROCK music sound??? I sure as hell don't see rock music acts moving towards a country music sound. It's the other way around. Sure...when you try to copycat our music and sound like us, then of course you will gain fans. Case in point: Jason Aldean. His most successful songs have a tremendous amount of rock influence, namely distorted guitars and powerful, commanding drum beats. Hmmm...where have we heard that before? Oh yea! ROCK MUSIC. Come again sometime....

Even the writer admits a fact that supports rock music:

"Valentino notes this caveat: “Country is genre-specific music, while Rock, categorically, will usually encompass different styles such as alternative, classical and modern," which can torque the numbers."

Ok so you're admitting that rock music has different avenues and different sounds? Well damn...weren't you just saying that rock music is essentially all the same? Nice backstep. You want someone that sounds the same? George Straight. The guy can change one guitar chord per album and still sell a million records. Not hard to keep country fans occupied apparently.

"Looking closer, it’s true that country music had a pretty poor showing in 2008 versus other forms of music in terms of revenue, although it was on track to have better growth in the first half of 2009 versus other genres, notes Fox News analyst James Farrell."

Oh SNAP! So it's really not all it's cracked up to be is it? That's right...so get off rock music's case.

I would suggest this writer look into the actual facts before writing another article that insults and puts down rock music for no good reason. I myself enjoy some country music...Brooks & Dunn are my favorites...and they incorporate rock-style music and lyrical content.

Opinions are like assholes....everyone has one. Doesn't mean yours is any better than mine.