Dashboard Confessional

Item: A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar
Author: Kevin D. Hendricks

A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar

(2003)

Reviewed by Kevin D. Hendricks

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label Vagrant RecordsReAL Magazine2003

alternative rock emo indie rock pop rock

A lot is riding on the latest Dashboard Confessional release. The bandwagon has been gaining speed, and this is the album that could make or break the band (despite popular conception, Dashboard is a four piece band, not just lead singer/heartthrob Chris Carraba). But never fear, things are looking up. A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar features more of Carraba's passionate vocals, backed with a full band that gives depth and diversity to incredibly emotional songs.

While Carraba's depressing rants aren't missing, they're not the only game in town. The heartache faces competition from ecstatic joy, giving the album thematic diversity. Musically, it sounds like deconstructed punk. The raw energy comes straight from Carraba's voice, which ranges from falsetto whispers to all-out screaming. He's no Pavarotti, but there is an accessible, every-man quality that makes his pained delivery likable. The instrumentation is also raw, polished enough to be happy, but smart enough to earn respect.

"Hands Down" starts the album with an incredible guitar hook, giving way to a sappy high school love story. The passionate "Bend and Not Break" covers the uneasiness of relationships. "Ghost of a Good Thing" is actually a demo version, but the raw, mellow sound works perfectly. The urgency of "Am I Missing" underscores the yearning for home.

A lot is indeed riding on A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar, but in the face of all the pressure, it's just good music.

A limited edition version of the album is available that includes a DVD featuring live concert and studio footage. The concert shots give a glimpse of the sing-along nature of Dashboard Confessional shows, more akin to praise and worship than anything you'll find in your typical rock venue. A mix of old and new songs should please fans of all stripes.