The New Music of “Dashboard Confessional”

By: Katie Barry
Posted In: Entertainment

“Dashboard Confessional” is not another “processed boy band” or a “one hit wonder” phenomenon taking over the Billboard 100 for countless weeks then quickly forgotten. It is the solo act created by the talented Chris Caraba that has been credited a major influence for the emo craze in the industry.

It is Caraba’s voice and self-written and produced songs of heartache that have lead to the popularity of this style of music.

The music of “Dashboard Confessional” gets at the deepest emotions of heart-wrenching relationships that many people, often teenagers, suffer through.

In each song, Caraba expresses sorrow and pain he experienced in his own life. The music has become therapy for young adults who are able to relate and find comfort in the lyrics.

On his most recent CD, “A Mark A Mission A Brand A Scar,” Caraba took advantage of his musician friends to create a more powerful and dynamic album than those in the past. His love-and-lost themes still remain.

On Track 10, we hear of a guy reintroduced to a lover from his past that still haunts his mind. The girl has been able to move on, make new friends, and start a new life but he wonders if she is truly happy. She puts on a fake smile to convince everyone she is all right, even when she knows it isn’t true. The title of this song is “So Beautiful,” as if the guy is reminding her of how beautiful she truly is and will always be to him.

It is hard not to feel compassion for those stories expressed in Caraba’s music. Every song on his new CD has a more mature, edgy sound. Many fans hope that a US tour will be on the way. With this new album under his belt, Caraba and “Dashboard Confessional” seem headed for more popularity and fame along their road. It’s truly remarkable how much he has grown between his last album and the music present on “A Mark A Mission A Brand A Scar.”

“Dashboard Confessional” is sure to continue making an impact on the music industry, even beyond the emo-rock scene. One can only believe that Caraba will be able to cover up the pop princesses, processed boy bands, and current one hit wonders in his way.