Crooked Shadows
Crooked Shadows is the seventh studio album by American rock band Dashboard Confessional. It was released on February 9, 2018 through Fueled by Ramen and Dine Alone Records.[1] It is their first studio album in nine years, following 2009's Alter the Ending.
Crooked Shadows | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 9, 2018[1] | |||
Genre | Alternative rock[2] | |||
Length | 29:37 | |||
Label | Fueled by Ramen | |||
Dashboard Confessional chronology | ||||
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The album debuted at number 53 on the Billboard 200, as well as number four on both the Billboard Rock Albums and Alternative Albums charts.[3]
Release
On November 15, 2017, "We Fight" premiered on Beats 1. Alongside this, Crooked Shadows was announced for release in February the following year.[4] On December 18, a music video was released for "Belong",[5] directed by Joe Zohar.[6] Two days later, a music video was released for "We Fight", directed by David Mack.[7] In early January 2018, the band performed the track on Conan.[8] On January 19, "Heart Beat Here" was made available for streaming.[9] Crooked Shadows was released on February 9 through Fueled by Ramen.[10]
In February and March 2018, the group embarked on a headlining US tour with support from Beach Slang.[11] In August, they went on a co-headlining US tour with All Time Low.[12] A second leg was planned to follow in September and October,[13] however, the day before this was to start, the band pulled out of a few days due to Carrabba dealing with a family emergency.[14] Four days later, the group pulled out of the second leg entirely.[15] On November 15, a music video was released for "Just What to Say",[16] directed by Ryan Hamblin.[17]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 57/100[18] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [19] |
Clash | 8/10[20] |
Drowned in Sound | 8/10[21] |
Exclaim! | 6/10[2] |
Pitchfork | 4.7/10[22] |
Rolling Stone | [23] |
Crooked Shadows was met with "mixed or average" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 57, based on 9 reviews.[18] Aggregator Album of the Year gave the album 60 out of 100 based on a critical consensus of 9 reviews.[24]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Chris Carrabba, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "We Fight" | 3:25 | |
2. | "Catch You" | 3:06 | |
3. | "About Us" |
| 3:36 |
4. | "Heart Beat Here" | 3:27 | |
5. | "Belong" (with Cash Cash) | 2:58 | |
6. | "Crooked Shadows" |
| 2:49 |
7. | "Open My Eyes" (featuring Lindsey Stirling) |
| 3:43 |
8. | "Be Alright" |
| 3:02 |
9. | "Just What to Say" (featuring Chrissy Costanza of Against The Current) |
| 3:31 |
Personnel
Dashboard Confessional
- Chris Carrabba – lead vocals, guitar, keyboard
- Benjamin Homola – drums, percussion
- Armon Jay – guitar, backing vocals
- Scott Schoenbeck – bass, keyboard
Technical personnel
- Jonathan Clark – producer, engineer
- Chris Carrabba – producer
- Jonathan Howard – producer and engineer (track 6), additional instrumentation
- Colin Brittain – co-producer, mixing, additional instrumentation
- Chad Gilbert – additional production (track 2)
- Cash Cash – producer and mixing (track 5)
- Ben Sabin – recording, additional mixing, additional instrumentation
- Ted Jensen – mastering
- Jack Barakat – additional instrumentation
- Lee Cunningham – additional instrumentation
- Dylan Meek – additional instrumentation
- Cheyenne Sabin – additional instrumentation
Charts
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200[25] | 53 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[26] | 4 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[27] | 4 |
References
- Rogers, Jack (November 16, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional Have Announced Their New Album". Rocksound.tv. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
- Bowles, Beth (February 2, 2018). "Exclaim! Review". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- "Dashboard Confessional". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
- Dickman, Maggie (November 15, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional announce first new album in eight years, release new song—listen". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- AltPress (December 18, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional team up with electronic trio Cash Cash for new song". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- Cash Cash (December 15, 2017). Cash Cash & Dashboard Confessional - Belong. Retrieved June 13, 2020 – via YouTube.
- AltPress (December 20, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional's "We Fight" video is a captivating work of art—watch". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- Tullio, Lauren (January 17, 2018). "Waterparks release new song "Not Warriors" and other news you might have missed today". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- Dickman, Maggie (January 19, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional shares stripped-down new song "Heart Beat Here"". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- AltPress (December 6, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional's comeback album to feature ATC's Chrissy Costanza". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- Dickman, Maggie (December 4, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional announce U.S. headlining tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- Casteel, Beth (May 14, 2018). "All Time Low and Dashboard Confessional announce co-headlining tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- Darus, Alex (June 25, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional, All Time Low announce second leg of 'The Summer Ever After' tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- Fair, Anna (September 26, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional cancel shows this weekend". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- Shoemaker, Whitney (September 30, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional pull from Summer Ever After Tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- Fair, Anna (November 15, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional drop new video and other news you might have missed today". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- Fueled by Ramen (November 15, 2018). Dashboard Confessional: Just What To Say (ft. Chrissy Costanza) [OFFICIAL VIDEO]. Retrieved June 13, 2020 – via YouTube.
- "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
- Beech, Dave (February 26, 2018). "Clash Magazine Review". Clash. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- Siregar, Cady (February 8, 2018). "Drowned in Sound Review". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- Hogan, Marc (February 10, 2018). "Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- Hopper, Jessica (February 9, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional, Emo Icon, Makes Stadium-Size Return". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- "Album of the Year Review". Album of the Year. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- "Dashboard Confessional Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
- "Dashboard Confessional Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
- "Dashboard Confessional Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2018.