Culture Blues

There are some things in life that don't need a comeback. Mutton chops (sorry to burst your bubble, dudes), locusts, David E. Kelly (I know, Picket Fences was awesome... it was also thirteen years ago), and most of all, Creed. Look, this is not an indictment on Christian or "uplifting" rock; this is just a conclusion I have come to after years of insidious radio play and gratuitous shots of Scott Stapp. For a while it appeared that they were gone, and the music world was just a better place with the absence of Creed. Alas, like some relentless supernatural killer from an 80's horror movie... They have returned with an album that I would love to destroy, but it’s just too dull to really inspire any passion.

Sure there is some top shelf guitar playing (Mark Tremonti has long since established himself as a premier player), some crunchy-ish riffs, and some halfway decent hooks; the problem is the overall product is apathetically lackluster. It doesn't even have the desperation you would expect from an obvious pension scheme (there is far too much bravado/righteousness for desperation); in fact it really sounds like they never left. When listening I got this weird feeling that they were just frozen in time somewhere waiting to be thawed out and deliver the further "evolution" of their craft (I am trying to be nice). Scott is back with, of course, his insipid Eddie Vedder impersonation- he is still trying to be "Scott Stapp" and it still comes off as douchey.

There is a sort of underproduced air to this record which I suspect is to help establish the back to basics, or "Full Circle", approach to this recording (or maybe they forgot to upgrade their ProTools); even formerly estranged bassist Brian Marshall is back for the proceedings. The band hit the ground running (The Creed reunion tour kicked off on August 6th and ended on the 20th of October) but luckily for all of you that didn't even care you will get another shot to see them soon, as a world tour is being planned for 2010.

Fortunately for Creed "non-fans" there aren't any tracks on the record that shine enough to be a monster radio hit a la Higher or With Arms Wide open (not that anyone listens to the radio anymore anyway), and for Creed fans... Well... They're back!!!