| My Own Prison | 1997 |
| Human Clay | 1999 |
| Weathered | 2001 |
A somewhat derivative, but solid band who are one of the few around today that have gained mainstream success playing good straightforward rock (in an era where terribly pathetic, artificial pop fluff is dominating the air waves). Their sound seems like a more direct version of Pearl Jam (with vocalist Scott Stapp having low register Eddie Vedder-like vocals), but the lyrics have a bit more of a Christian influence (something non-existent in grunge bands), and the band's best weapon instrumentally is the exceptional bass playing of Brian Marshall. My Own Prison was the debut, generating memorable hit singles in the title track, "What's This Life For?", "Torn" and "One", while their second album Human Clay featured the single "Higher".
--Nick Karn
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COMMENTS
When a supposedly "grunge" band achieves two consecutive #1 singles - remember, not even any of the first wave bands did that, not Nirvana, not Pearl Jam and certainly not Soundgarden - you'd better smell a rat.
And boy, is it a big one.
This is not grunge. It's not even modern-rock (whatever that term means - ask Billboard!), grunge-rock, or even updated classic rock as some of Pearl Jam's songs certainly are. Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce (swish, trumpets) ADULT ORIENTED GRUNGE!
"Higher". Man, that sounds like a Damn Yankees song, that's what. They even rip off part of the title ("High Enough") and the chorus ("Can you take me HIIIIIIIIGHER" versus "Can you take me HIGH ENOUGH?"). Just give the two a spin - you may need a shot of something soothing first - and see what I mean.
"With Arms Wide Open". If Weird Al decided to do a hokey Pearl Jam parody, this is what it would sound like. If I were Scott Stapp's kid, I would probably have been stillborn hearing him sing this to his wife.
Let's hope they go the Hootie way, though let me point out that Hootie was marginally the more deserving band.
[email protected] (Andrew McQuillan)
Creed's fucking horrible.
[email protected] (John Schlegel)
I actually used to like these guys' debut. As derivative as it all is, it's a solid hard rock outing; "Torn," "My Own Prison," "Unforgiven" (heavy!), that "illusion" song (great, menacing, pendulum-ticking riff), the second song, and that "sister" song (endearing, reminds me of Lisa Simpson) are all good . . . uh, songs. Certainly one of the best rock records of 1998, and a promising debut. But fame has really gone to Creed's heads, and they've just become this ridiculously cheesy, meglo-hard rock marketing extravaganza. Their singer's a pretentious, trendy free-spirit who has delusions that he's a Christ-figure. Their more recent singles are so drab and tuneless; yet the band's so overrated. What really irks me about them is how much hero-worship VH1 gives them. They wasted a Behind the Music on them, which mostly served as a manifesto for Scott Stapp's New-Agey mumbo-jumbo. And they put the "With Arms Wide Open" video on the 100 Greatest Video countdown. If that isn't throwing the number #1 rock band in the world a bone, I don't know what is. That video is so stupid--I have to laugh every time the bad, computerized meteorites whiz down past Mr. Stapp, as he stands there on top of a cliff, singing to the clouds "with arms wide open." In sum, I guess I don't like Creed anymore.
Creed is a symptom of everything that is wrong with America. Creed is shitty music for Middle-American, White-Trash Christian Teenagers who don't have any taste or sense. The singer Stapp tries his damndest to sound exactly like Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder (who also sucks). They appeal to trailer-trash who like Professional Wrestling, their music is boring arena-rock full of embarrasing histronics and bombastic bullshit.
Creed Sucks. End of story. If you like them, then you have no real taste in art or music. Christianity sucks too, it is a nonsensical religion for brainwashed idiots. Deuteronomy 23: 1 -2 for example.
CREED ARE AN EMBARRESMENT TO ALL METAL AND ROCK IN GENERAL! THE ONLY REASON WHY CREED IS THAT SHITTY IS THAT SHIITY SOUND THIS, MY FRIEND IS PUKEY, NASTY , FILTHY, DISGUSTING, GARBAGE. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR YOUR MONEY!
The year is 1997, and "My Own Prison" is the most requested song in the rock/metal format, and for good reason. It's heavy for the headbangers, amiable for their girlfriends, and let's face it, it's a damn good song. "Torn", while not nearly as popular, is heavier, darker, and deeper, almost Pantera-esque. Almost. Metal and classic rock stations eat Creed up like turkey gravy at Christmas; There might be hope for the rusted machine that was once rock n' roll. Contemporary-hit stations stick to Britney Spears. "What's This Life For" comes and goes. Then came "One", the metal/bubble gum pop wonder.
Fast forward to 2001. Creed is smothered all over Tiger Beat and Teen magazine, and 13 year-old girls get giggly looking into Scott Stapp's eyes as he schmaltzes about his baby. Rock programmers refuse to acknowledge they ever promoted this band, in the fear that the goo emanating from MTV's TRL might infect them, and adult-contempo programmers wet themselves. Because that's what they do.
Wake up to 2003. Rock fans still shake their heads in disappointment over what could have been, and contempo fans (being who they are) move on to something even more banal than the last. Congratulations, Creed! You're table is here in the corner next to Hootie and the Blowfish and Green Day. Alanis Morrisette will be your waitress this evening. Enjoy.
(reviewed by Nick Karn)
I originally dismissed the first single for this album (the title song) a bit unfairly as a Pearl Jam ripoff (mainly due to the vocals), and admittedly there are quite a few places where the band is paying a bit too much homage to them and other bands in the grunge scene, but the songwriting quality is still nevertheless quite high, outstanding for a debut album, and is at many points more straightforward heavy metal than grunge. The title song is fairly infectious, and features an awesome bassline with an atmosphere that perfectly matches the guilt, betrayal and confusion in the lyrics.
"What's This Life For?" is even more melodic, and is as reflective and gentle as it is hard-hitting -- it's no surprise that it was one of the biggest hit singles around that time, while the Soundgarden-ish "Ode" moves furiously and its' heavy riff is balanced out by great harmonies in the sing-along chorus, and "In America" musically soars and lyrically covers political territory successfully. The closer "One", though, is probably the track that indicates the most promise for this band, with excellent lyrics, great rhythm, bassline, and aggressive and emotional vocals.
The rest of the album, though, doesn't quite hold up. The opener "Torn" goes on too long without ever actually doing anything, "Sister" is an average ballad, "Illusion" and "Unforgiven" aren't bad but sound a bit too cliched (the latter song even sounds too similar to Metallica, both musically and in the title), and "Pity For A Dime" wallows in self-pity, and that's not a good thing. Overall, though, My Own Prison is for the most part very successful at what it does, and forecasts a promising future for Creed.
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COMMENTS
One of the few great debuts in the past few years. However, I strongly disagree about "Torn". In my opinion that track is easily the strongest on the disc, with a very catchy and rhythmic chorus, plus a cool middle section and buildup for the final refrain. "What's this Life for" has a great catchy little opening riff, and the drummer shows off his fill and roll skills during the final refrain. Very strong rhythm section overall, though I will admit to having missed the bassist's talent; the drummer's skill is more readily apparent in my opinion. Anyways, very good album, and I hope the next one continues the trend. Lord knows we need moe good rock bands to crush the crappy Backdoor Boys and the like. I give it an 8.
(reviewed by Nick Karn)
The band's follow up to their smash debut My Own Prison has virtually the same sound and formula as the last, but is very much lacking in catchy hooks and good songwriting, which the last album, for all its derivative tendencies, had in abundance. It does have a darker atmosphere, but maybe that isn't a good thing, as it's more likely to put me to sleep than anything else. The first half in particular sounds stale and hardly interesting, with slight variations of riffs from the previous albums and subpar melodies. The ridiculously inane and annoyingly repetitive single "What If" is the lamest worst offender, while "Are You Ready" comes out of the gate immediately sounding half-baked. Even the moodier pieces like "Faceless Man" and "Beautiful", which have the potential for strong emotion, aren't too memorable, and "Say I" is another track that falls victim to the quickly declining Creed formula.
The second half is somewhat of an improvement, because it's where all the good songs are, but still not enough of one to save it from "sophomore slump" status. "Never Die" has quite mesmerizing guitar and bass interplay with dark lyrics and a great 'midnight out on the street' mood, while "With Arms Wide Open" is an effective ballad and setup for lead single "Higher", which was one of the most exceptional singles of the year and easily the best song on the album, with a phenomenal hook, soaring bridge, and irresistible Eastern-like riff. But sadly, after that glimpse of excellence within those three songs, the last two numbers fall back into substanceless territory. Overall, Human Clay is a mostly disappointing and empty listen despite its' few shining moments.
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[email protected] (tony souza)
This one for me is better than the debut ( which I liked also). The songs have a fuller, more rich texture, and are a little more memorable. I find this one a little more consistent then their debut.
[email protected] (Peter Ross)
I loved Creed's first album--it was original and had some great ass-kicking rock on it. They had a knack for creating energetic guitar riffs and soulful lyrics and harmonies. I was expecting the same with this one, BUT...I was wrong.
This album, for me, is the worst album of 1999 and arguably the worst of the late 1990s. It was talked about beyond belief, "Higher" was being played to death on all the big rock stations, and countless other hype-inducing tactics had been used. No surprise, though--this one is all hype and no substance.
Okay, what I'm trying to say is: On their first album, Creed sounded like the next big thing. They sounded like they wouldn't take any shit from anyone, and that they wouldn't compromise their vision for money and fame. On this pile o' trash, the band gave in to the Almighty Dollar and let the sudden fame go to their heads, thus turning them into a bunch of egotistical jackoffs.
That being said, let's get to the album.
It sucks. All of the songs are painfully derivative, ripping off melodies from songs on My Own Prison and even songs ripping off songs on this album that came before them! If that last sentence confused you, here's what I mean...
Take the great "With Arms Wide Open (yeah, I like this song. WHAT'RE YA GONNA DO ABOUT IT?!?!)" and "Wash Away Those Years." Two different songs, yet so the same. Why? Consider their structures: Both begin with sound effects that segue into a guitar line so damned similar that it's impossible to tell one from the other. Stapp enters singing "soulfully," it gets to the chorus, the band gradually comes in with their respective instruments, and they start ratchet-bashing on the chorus' repetition. A solo, a final runthrough of the chorus, and a fadeout. No visible difference, and if you listen to these songs back-to-back, I guaran-damn-tee that you won't be able to tell them apart.
The lyrics, so great on the first album, have degenerated into so many utterly stupid cliches and genericism that it makes me want to vomit. The lyrics to one song in particular, "Wrong Way," are so cliche-ridden and simplistic that it makes me yearn for a firearm to shoot out my stereo. The chorus is literally: "Somebody told me the wrong way! Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah, YEAH!" How they could go from "But they ain't here anymore/Don't have to settle no goddamn score/'Cause we all live under the reign of one king" to this is just SAD.
Okay, enough ranting. The bottom line is...this album is a terrible waste of time for anyone who buys it. Cliches, genericism, and stupidity abound. The band is catering to the lowest common denominator here--that is, dipshits who think Korn are wordsmiths and tunesmiths. Well, I hate Korn and genericism, so I ain't in the minority. I was insulted and offended by this record, and it should've died a quick and horrible death. However, it was Creed, so it sold more copies than My Own Prison. Jesus. This album gets a ONE!
HUMAN SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT! FUCKING BAAAAAAD! CREED ARE THE WORST BAND IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE! ACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT IF ! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!
WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN!: WIIIIII ARMSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS WIE UPEN! INDOOR DA SOONLIIT! WECOME TO DIS PLACE I SHAW U EFITHANG! SORRY JUST MISSPELLED JOKES HA HA HA !
HIGHER!: CAAA U TAK MEEEEEEEE HI YOUR! TO A PLACE WER OLD MEN SEEEEEEEEEE! CAN U TAKE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HI YOUR!!!!!!!!! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLDEN ANAL CUNT! GOD DAMN THIS SUCKS!
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