Poetry in Musical Motion...
Written: Mar 15 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: strong vocals, breathtaking acoustical sound, lyrical bliss; music that creates true visual imagery.
Cons: if you're a total metalhead, you probably won't dig this.
The Bottom Line: I confess... this album is brilliant.
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| emptywishes's Full Review: The Swiss Army Romance by Dashboard Confessional |
Good acoustic music is hard to come by these days. Everyone is trying to be bigger, louder, more electronic. Distortion pedals are a standard these days, and MIDIs are making themselves more and more mainstream with every passing day. It's nice to hear Chris Carabba keeping it clean and pure with his one man band, Dashboard Confessional.
Upon listening to the album's first track, "Screaming Infidelities," the listeners knows what to expect. No drums, no bass riffs. A man, his voice, and his guitar. The song starts out with the tapping out of the beat on the guitar to set the tempo (usually done by the drummer, but since there is none...). The guitar solos are simple, but beautiful. The lyrics have a high-school lovesick quality to them:
As for now I'm gonna hear the saddest songs
And sit alone and wonder
How you're making out
And as for me I wish that I was anywhere
With anyone
Making out...
"Living in Your Letters" is nothing short of beautiful. While the guitar part to this tune is rather simple, the lyrics (and harmonizing vocals) really give it an ethereal feel.
And there's no need to test my heart
With useless space
These rooms go on forever
There'll always be a place
For you
In my heart.
"The Swiss Army Romance" has a happier, reminiscing tone to it. With a faster tempo, and less minor chords, paired with the lyrics, it sends memories of the days of youthful innocence, and wanting nothing more than your youth to be over.
Youth's the most unfaithful mistress
Still we forge ahead to miss her
Rushing our moment to shine.
Making up a history
It's nothing from the life you lead
But man will they buy all your lies.
For the most impressive guitar number (as well as some breezy guest background vocals), check out "Age Six Racer." The guitar solo in the beginning (which reappears in similar form at a couple different parts during the song) is complex in its simplicity (you'll understand once you've heard it).
Hey thanks, thanks for that summer
It's cold where you're going I hope that your heart's always warm
I gave you the best, I gave you the best that I had
You passed on the letters and passed on the best I have.
This album also contains a bonus, untitled track that I adore. Unfortunately, being a bonus track and all, the sound quality is weak; it sounds as though it was recorded into a tape deck in the singer's basement. The lyrics are again the highlight though:
Save up until you've had it
The offer's gone but you won't go on
Brought down with a force of nature
Breathing off my lung...
I bought the album on impulse (not even used, which is a rarity for me), and was pleasantly surprised. "The Swiss Army Romance" found a warm, fuzzy place in my heart as one of my favorite albums of 2000. It is flawless and there is no excuse for not having this one in your music collection. Pick it up, pronto!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
emptywishes
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 - Top 1000 |
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Location: the land of fries and toast, apparently.
Reviews written: 185
Trusted by: 163 members
About Me:
Still alive. Find me here: http://www.francophoney.net
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