So here's an article type I've been thinking about for a while now: going through a band's discography in full and writing a review about each album. Of course, this isn't something I can do often, but I figured I'd start with a band that I've always enjoyed, and only has a handful of albums: Creed! For this retrospective, I'll just be focusing on just the four studio albums.
Creed was a band that rode the wave of post-grunge that took over the radio in the late 90s, turning into one of the biggest bands of the moment. As this style of rock became quite prevalent, Creed eventually became the whipping post for those who didn't care for its radio-friendly variation of the grunge movement, but I think that's been unfair. Sure, Creed wasn't innovating anything, but at the same time, I think they wrote quite a number of solid rock songs that still hold up quite well. Let's dig into it.
My Own Prison (1997)
For a small rock band from Florida, this is quite the debut. This is definitely the rawest the band would ever sound, with the production coming across as a little dirty. However, it fits the sound of the band at this time, as their riffs were heavier and grittier at this point. Honestly, some of it is as much as alternative metal as it is post-grunge.
Scott Stapp takes center stage, though, as he is the voice for the song's somber but hopeful tone. It doesn't matter if the song is slow and acoustic, or riffs out aggressively, his voice is full of authority and character. I wouldn't say it's quite perfect, as some of the lines are delivered a little stiffly, but for a debut, it's quite a strong and iconic performance.
Of course, much was made of the Christian themes in the lyrics, but I would never consider them preachy, but rather quite introspective, which fits their post-grunge sound very well. Songs about taking a good hard look at yourself, your mistakes, and your feelings about the world without resorting to whining or tantrums. It's a controlled frustration that processes itself thoroughly into a form of anthemic relief, making for a very cathartic experience, in my opinion, and it's a feeling the band would carry through the rest of their records.
Overall, I still quite love this album, partially for the grittiness, partially for the dynamics, as songs shift of quieter moments to full-on arena friendly rocking at max volume without losing their theme or character. Most of the songs are still winners for me, with "Sister" being a bit on the lackluster side. Seriously a contender for one of the best debut rock albums recorded.
Human Clay (1999)
The big one that brought the band international success. There is definitely a cleaner, shinier quality to the songs here, probably in an effort to make a more mainstream sounding album, and I won't deny that it certainly worked. While I do appreciate the shift towards a more arena-filling and radio-friendly sound, I can't deny that it's lost some of the character and honesty that came from their first album.
Human Clay is definitely a broader album, though. "With Arms Wide Open" might be a power ballad worthy of Journey, but you can't deny the execution as a sweeping, powerful dedication to fatherhood. "Faceless Man" is probably the band at their most church-like, and features an Arabic vibe, as do a few other tracks. And the big hit "Higher" shows a brighter side to the band, something that didn't appear much on My Own Prison. Meanwhile, "What If" is particularly heavy and is probably the track that most resembles their first album. Other songs with darker themes include "Wrong Way" and "Beautiful," and they both have the riffs to match.
Overall, there's plenty to like here. The riffs might be a little catchier, and the songs more anthemic, but they haven't lost any of their crunchiness or attitude. Much of the introspective tone has also been retained, as the lyrics continue to offer reflections of the self, bouncing around concepts like doubt and regret and absolution. Stapp is definitely more confident here, the band letting his iconic baritone carry the songs for them.
Honestly, I still love "Higher." It's an elevating song, with the hopeful lyrics backed by some great power chords. I know when I first heard it on the radio, I was hooked, and Creed quickly became one of my favorite bands. As for the rest of the album, I like a lot of it, and I do think that it's better overall than My Own Prison just slightly, but it is a bit on the long side for what they have to offer. Still, a great rock album, even all these years later.
Weathered (2001)
At the height of their popularity, their bassist Brian Marshall ended up having some problems and would end up leaving the band/be fired (it's not completely clear), but this album would be recorded without him, with Mark Tremonti recording both the bass and the guitars. It's a bit odd as this album is probably my favorite of the first three, as I feel it marries the polish of Human Clay with the grit of My Own Prison very well, making it the best of both worlds.
It kicks right off with two very heavy tracks: "Bullets" and "Freedom Fighter." The first is straight up alternative metal, very aggressive and powerful. The second has a 6/8 swing, and may be a bit cheesy, but it's still crunchy and a lot of fun. "Signs" is almost just as fierce. On the other hand, "My Sacrifice" and "Stand Here With Me" are great anthemic tracks much like "Higher," and the big, somber ballad "One Last Breath" is solid as well. "Who's Got My Back Now" is moodier, and quite long for the band, clocking in at over 8 minutes, allowing for some rather proggy shifts in tone and dynamics. "Weathered" further explores their introspective tone, which the band has mastered by now. However, after the title track, the album sags for me. "Don't Stop Dancing" is nice, but doesn't have the same carrying power as the rest of the album. "Hide" and "Lullaby" feel like after-thoughts. It's pretty disappointing after 8 strong tracks.
Still, I remember first getting this and being completely blown away, as it was the heaviest stuff I'd heard up to that point (my appreciation for metal would come much later). I felt like Creed really had it together, with great songs and powerful performances.
However, it was not meant to be. Stapp's live performances were becoming controversial, and internal tensions in the band caused them to declare in 2004 that they had broken up. As a consequence, I listened to these three albums to death to the point that I know them like the back of my hand. I still listen to them regularly, as I think it's solid hard rock that has held up well (though there may be some rose-tinted glasses involved).
A meaningful album title indeed! While Tremonti and Phillips would team up with Marshall and singer Myles Kennedy to make Alter Bridge, and Scott Stapp kicked off a solo career, it had seemed like Creed was very much done. However, by the end of the 2000s, the group brought each other around for another album, which helped inspire its title.
Right off, it seems like we're back into the comfortable shoes of post-grunge. Scott Stapp is soaring over hard, crunchy riffs, all building their classic atmosphere of cathartic, introspective rock. However, there is something different about this one that sets it apart from their earlier albums. It's a little hard to pin down, but I think it has to do with the band's experience in Alter Bridge, making the songs sound a little more complex in structure (and there's definitely more guitar solos in general). It could also just be the production. 8 years can make a difference in production technology, especially in recent history.
However, it's still a very solid hard rock album. Stapp still sounds great here, showing some pretty good range between the softer songs and the more aggressive ones. "Overcome" is a great opener that shows the band hasn't lost any of its power, "Rain" has a very refreshing quality, the title track is solid, and "Time" has a strong, emotional quality to it. I don't know if I like this one as much as the first three, but I've listened to those three so many times, and I haven't listened to this one as much. Maybe it will reach the same level as the others as I continue to listen to it.
From here, the band fell apart again. There was talk of a fifth album, but that has since been abandoned. The rest of the band moved on with Alter Bridge and other projects, while Scott Stapp did more solo work, and ended up going through a pretty serious breakdown. However, it seems he's recovered, doing work with Art of Anarchy, and recently putting out another solo album.
So that's the first of what will be many band retrospectives. I knew I wanted to start with a band I loved, but didn't have a long discography, and Creed fit the bill very well. I know it's become a bit of meme to like or hate the band, but I still think their music has weight and relevance after all these years. I don't know if they will ever get back together again, but if things do fall together again, I know I'll be first in line to hear what they have in store.
Until then, rock on! \m/
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