Creed vocalist-lyricist Scott Stapp clearly understands the pitfalls
that lay in the rock and roll terrain. "Remember your roots my friend...Cause
heroes come and heroes go," he sings in "Are You Ready?," the stomping
opening track of the Florida hard rock quartet's second album. Creed certainly
became heroic with its debut, 1997's My Own Prison; heavy touring and strong
word of mouth eventually led to major radio support, and the album sold
more than four million copies and launched four No. 1 hits on Billboard's
rock chart. Impressive, and the kind of showing that's often a set-up for
a sophomore slump.
But that's not likely to happen. With many of the groups
it models itself after in various stages of MIA - Soundgarden's broken
up, Stone Temple Pilots is on ice while frontman Scott Weiland sits in
prison, and Alice in Chains is still moribund - there's little competition
for Creed and the grungy slamfest that the group delivers at full volume
on Human Clay. It's certainly more sophisticated and ambitious album than
its predecessor, from the Eastern tinges of "Are You Ready?" to the gentle
balladry of "With Arms Wide Open" (Stapp's ode to his first child) and
the anthemic drive of the album-closing "Inside Us All," in which Creed
concludes, "There's a peace inside us all/ Let it be your friend."
Prior to that, however, it's all angst, moaning, and self-doubt;
even the sweetness of "With Arms Wide Open" is grounded by Stapp's earnest
assertion that he hopes his son "is not like me." But like My Own Prison,
Human Clay is mostly burdened by shamelessly derivative songs and sound-alike
arrangements that alternate quiet and loud passages in almost formulaic
fashion. The energy seems genuine and the sonics are solid, but too often
you find yourself wondering if you haven't already heard this song before.