Dashboard Confessional

Whether it's because Chris Carrabba's last few rock-oriented, complexly arranged records failed to sell as well as the intimate acoustic works that defined his success in the early '00s, or simply because he's been missing his roots, The Shade of Poison Trees finds emo's crown prince getting back to basics. Once again, his honeyed vocals mostly nestle into beds of strummed acoustic guitars, with the exception of the uplifting, piano-driven closer, "Widows Peak." Even if this set doesn't restore Carrabba to his past greatness, it's enough to show fans that he's still good for a few more cries.

On last year's "Dusk and Summer," Chris Carrabba's band churned out vast anthems buffed
to perfection. The record was pretty, but its sales figures weren't, so Carrabba's back to
the stripped-down sound that first made him a star. It's a worthwhile exercise, and The
Shade of Poison Trees easily demonstrates Carrabba's gifts for writing elegant melodies and
plucking teenage heartstrings. "Fever Dreams," a bouncy doodle of a tune, bops... More >