By no stretch of the imagination am I an expert, or even a connoisseur of rock. I am, however, very picky — addicted to the "skip" button, you might say. Creed's Human Clay makes this personal compulsion difficult to satisfy.
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| CREED - Special |
The album first came to my attention when a close friend gushed over it incessantly, and forced me to listen to it. Then there was the mass of people from my high school that gave up going to their senior prom because it coincided with the Creed concert. It seemed that everywhere I went Creed was destined to follow, so, being the logical person that I am, I decided to give it a try.
My first impression of Creed was its pseudo-grunge image. Lead vocalist and songwriter Scott Stapp, guitarist Mark Tremonti (who was recently named best rock guitarist by Guitar World's 2000 reader poll), bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips come together to create a unique blend of classic and alternative rock. Combine this with their simple, heartfelt lyrics, and you have a band that has brought the common man's rock mainstream.
Being of the uneducated musical masses, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to an album that does not require extensive analysis to understand, yet is able to lift my proverbial spirit. If you are anxious to hear some great music that isn't tied down or drowned out by endless metaphors and hidden meanings, look no further than Human Clay.
This is the group's sophomore album, a follow up to 1997's My Own Prison. Creed's music has matured in this second album, despite the ruling of the music world by teenyboppers and their little sisters. The band has discovered the secret formula for a successful album.
Songs such as "What If" and "Higher" have already spent a considerable amount of time at the top of the music charts, and the album contains many more potential hits. If that doesn't satisfy you, consider this: Human Clay has already sold over six million copies. So here's the proverbial question: Can six million people be completely wrong?
Probably not. The album is filled to the brim with lyrics that convey a hopeful attitude towards life, a drastic change from the words of confusion and uncertainty that run amok in My Own Prison. The songs are easy to relate to because they touch on topics from heartbreak to revenge — issues that we all deal with.
Creed believes very strongly in new beginnings and second chances and band members have learned to appreciate beauty and simplicity in everyday life. These themes are especially prevalent in "Wrong Way" and "With Arms Wide Open." While the members of Creed insist that they are not a Christian band, their lyrics certainly have a strong underlying spiritual current. Whatever your religious preference, however, Creed will satisfy.
This album rocks. The words are great, the vocals are wonderful and the music is original. Best of all, it is an album for everyone. Invest in Human Clay: It will be money well spent.
