Creed
Full Circle
Wind-Up Records
October 27, 2009

By Kim Scroggins

Even if you’re not a fan, you at least know of Creed, the band known for having a lead singer who passes out drunk on stage before a sold out crowd. After disappearing from the scene back in 2004, the band returns with their new release Full Circle.

The album opens up in a style slightly different than what most Creed fans are used to. The hard riff in the very beginning of the album’s first track “Overcome” almost smacks you in the face as if to say, “Hey! Remember us? We’re back!”

Full Circle is dedicated to lead singer Scott Stapp’s comeback after battling drug and alcohol abuse. Most of the songs here you’ll probably find to be repetitive. Stapp sings about how he is a changed man and vows to keep it that way. But what else did you expect him to sing about? It’s only been eight years since their last new studio album release.

Despite the loud opening, the rest of the album carries on in the typical Creed fashion. Stapp’s singing is more in your face but still has that sound where you think he’s trying to swallow his tongue. That, mixed with the lighter twangs that they call guitar solos, and it’s hard to say whether or not Creed really left. It seems that they picked up right where they left off.

The band’s toils inspired the album title and are evident in the overemotional content of the tracks. For example on “The Song You Sing” we are hearing about Stapp’s emotional self-discovery. “Woke up and had a face to face/Guess my reflection had a lot to say.” Deep, right?

Unfortunately no song on this album will ever be the hit that “Higher” was and probably still is. In fact, Creed has lost some of that touch that just made their bad music sound good. There isn’t one person I know who does not know the words to “Higher,” whether they’ve heard it once or a million times.

Creed has gone past their prime and the members should probably stick to their side projects like Alter Bridge. As expected, this album wasn’t bad but wasn’t great either. Looks like Creed likes to settle for mediocrity.