Dusk & Summer
It's all about the power chord and the sing-along chorus. With the exception of the stark title track, Christopher Carrabba's once-prominent acoustic strumming is now in short supply. Along with Scott Schoenbeck, John Lefler, and Mike Marsh, the Dashboard Confessional mastermind cranks it all up on his fourth full-length: the guitars, vocals, drums, the works. Consequently, some listeners have been tossing around the letter "U" and the numeral "2." It's a bit of a stretch, although the albumwasco-produced by Daniel Lanois ofJoshua Treefame (and mixed byNevermind's Andy Wallace). The Florida outfit also opened for the Irish superstars in support of 2003’sA Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar. That said, Carrabba is still the same earnest young man, just more amplified than before. Aside from "Dusk and Summer," quieter tracks include "Stolen" and the piano-driven "So Long, So Long," decorated with husky croons from Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows. But even these seem loud compared to Carrabba's stripped-down early material. It isn't a bad move, but like most stylistic shifts it's sure to send a few longtime fans packing, while making room for new ones who've never heard Dashboard Confessional before or who found the old stuff too whiny and angst-ridden. Well, there isn't much whining onDusk and Summer--just a whole lotta (heartfelt) rockin'.--Kathleen C. Fennessy