Although music doesn’t necessarily fall under the purview of this site, one should never miss a chance to heap scorn on Creed. After seven long years, Creed rejoins for Full Circle, and the results are predictably awful, often in unique ways.
From many self-indulgent write-ups in the media on Scott Stapp and company, the narrative of this album’s creation is clear: after Stapp’s prescription drug use, alcohol abuse, and general antics, the band broke up on the peak side of a decline. The band was angry because their meal ticket was eliminated at its most profitable point. Stapp was angry because he enjoys being a victim. Either way, Stapp released a widely dismissed solo album (the cover artwork is painfully bad), and the rest of the band got a new singer to form the mild Alter Bridge. The band really missed its Creed era perks and pay, which was enough justification to get back together.
Meanwhile, Stapp’s vaguely publicized “suicide attempt” involved him pointing two guns at his head at once, but stopping when he saw a picture of his son. Another great anecdote was Stapp shooting up his house in a fit of rage with some MP5 sub-machine guns he owned, though I think he was embellishing his firearm collection, because you can’t legally own that kind of firepower. Other hits include public intoxication after his wedding, throwing a glass of orange juice at his wife, and getting into a fight with 311. His foray into groupie love with Kid Rock (who judged Stapp an idiot) and condemnation by Jerry Cantrell for bad tour manners are instructive. His drunken performance on television harassing Howard Stern’s wife is well worth your internet time. In a final concert, Stapp was so inebriated he laid down on stage and forgot many lyrics, prompting a failed lawsuit from offended conservative concert attendees.
A seven-year hiatus adds a lot of panache to a new album, and the band has been touring this year to support the release. The music video for the single “Overcome” is primarily concert footage, and if there is one thing I know, it is that when your video is concert footage, you are probably trying to get by on the cheap. The single is catchy enough, but the rest of the album goes straight downhill into the worst Creed habits and clichés. This is no rebirth; this is a requiem for nu-metal, now safely dead and buried, with Full Circle a shovel full of dirt thrown in the open grave.
When a person sits down and listens to the rock albums of ten years ago, it is startling that anyone (a) listened to this, and (b) took any of the music seriously. Overly simple song titles match the bland lyrics (“Suddenly,” “Rain,” “Fear,” and “Time”). The lyrics are bad, even by Stapp’s blunt writing method. The hard rock is servicable–Tremonti the steadying force on the music side–but the acoustic is more abrasive than usual. Full Circle is the same old Creed, amplified and resampled to mushy acoustic/power rock goop. As a result, it is no surprise that this album has an antique sound, dusty remembrances of a time long past, as dated as Twisted Sister. Can anything be as bad as an album meant as a defiant exclamation of presence, which only serves as a demonstration of fading talents and appeal? Some bands evolve and continue to be great well into old age. Other bands are stuck in the glory days and can only repeat what they know best. One song is titled “Bread of Shame,” which is both hilarious and unbelievable.
Full Circle is Creed past its prime, a decade removed from their chart-topping pseudo-Christian gobbledy-gook peak. To make listening easier, pretend it is an alternate universe Creed album, a reality where the band never broke up and gently fell into the arms of irrelevance. This may be harbinger for other bands of the time to release new material. Self-imposed drama and pain are bad enough, especially for a rich rockstar, but this exposition of solipsistic silliness is severely stupid. Creed’s new album is awful, but, like a horrible car wreck, you can’t help but look.
Full Circle is great and is debuting at #2!
Full Circle is a great rock CD
Creed full circle is their best CD since human clay and has some great track..Higlights are Time and Away in silence..Great from start to finish..Entertainment weekly gave it a B and it is the number one selling album on Itunes..Creed is back!!
Creed full Circle 4/5 star
#1 on I tunes
200,000 cds sold in first week
Real rock returns to kick commerical pop in the ass!!
Creed Rules…Best rock cd this year and their best effort since My Own Prison..Give it a shot u wont regret it..I havent stopped listening for days..Creed has overcome
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Creed = #1 rock CD this year..
Creed is going to the top again!!
It sounds good.
It’s nothing new though.
Pointless effort. Self-parody. Regurgitation. Pointless.
Creed has lost its Post grunge rock aroma. Creed is no more the same old Creed. It is a disappointing album ever by a band who had 3 platinum CD sales. The music is just so sober and plain. The level of compositions and the lyrics were too simple. Far down below the expectations from a band like Creed. Shame on you Creed!!! Compare the new tracks with their old tracks like my own prison, torn, one, weathered, my sacrifice, one last breath, what if, faceless man, whats this life for etc etc the list goes on and on!!!!
I was a big fan of Creed, and even though I regret it, I have to admit getting a lot of enjoyment from their CDs. Still, things change, and songs I took seriously as a teenager seem very juvenile now. By any measure, this CD isn’t even close to the first two albums, or even the sloppy Weathered.
I have received more comments on this post than any other I have ever done for this site, most defending Creed, many so full of hate and spite they had to be removed. It is a credit to a band if people are willing to defend them with such vigor.
I stand by my opinions though, I think this is a terrible CD, even from the perspective of someone who used to enjoy Creed a lot.
Sorry guys, its over!
Obviously the writer was denied tickets at some point in his life. Creed is awesome! The CD is worth every penny!
Fantastic album – well worth the wait! I was a big fan of Creed – still am!
ps. creed rocks
I hate Reviews like this, Creed is one of the best bands out there.
From a rock musician’s perspective it’s a decent piece of work, but as you say the first track is really the highlight.
I don’t know how you define irrelevance — Beethoven is hardly irrelevant but I’d say just as many people listen to Beethoven on a daily basis as people still listen to Creed.
But you didn’t like it and that’s quite fair enough. I listened to Eminem for about a week when I was younger. I won’t make the mistake of pretending hip-hop is anything more than a parody of good music ever again so I can respect where you’re coming from.
I think it’s a great comeback album. A little heavier and the song structures that most Creed fans are used to are changed up a bit, but all in all, a very decent release. The reviewer obviously has some personal hate, and by the way, Alter Bridge is NOT “mild” !! What a joke. This guy needs to listen to ‘Blackbird’ and he will see the light.
This is a great albumn. Period.
I absolutely Love creed. Their music is positive and full of passion… I totally connect with them… or at least with their last 3 albums, even weathered… loved all 3! full circle is a little different and a lot more matured… not necessarily a good thing, but I am really liking all the tracks! Love CREED!
This isn’t a review. its just a guy who hates scott stapp, having a good old moan.
This album is pretty damn good, the riffs and melodies are classic creed, but heavier in places. Stapp spends most of the album apologising for being a dick head, and by the end of it you feel like he actually means it.
on top of that the music and singing style is fuckin heavy!
they are a good band and I hope this reawakens their shiiiiit.
this album is gonna get some serious ipod playtime!
Creed’s 1st CD was awesome.Second was good.Third nah ok.Full Circle is Lame.(it is better than Scott Stapps solo project though)I’ve grown up and listen to Meshugga now.
Number one. The reviewer’s specification of this music as “Nu-Metal” is incorrect. The the rock on this album is a rehashing of the “Post-grunge” sound of the mid nineties, not from the “Nu-Metal” of bands such as Korn and Limp Bizkit. Since designating a band as “Nu-Metal” usually means that the band is heavily downtuned with rap and electronic elements (ie Linkin Park), the reviewer’s genre designation falls flat. The most you can call this CD is ‘alternative metal’, with the downtuned riffage of “Bread of Shame” (still no rap or electronic elements). Number two. Musically speaking, this is better then My Own Prison, not quite as good as Human Clay, and equal or better then Weathered. Stapp is a stronger vocalist (aside from over singing on “Time” and “Good Fight”) then he used to be. He doesn’t feel the need to growl all the time, and for the most part only does it when appropriate. The band itself surpasses old Creed, with Brian Marshall maturing and settling in the pocket, Scott Phillips offering a little more adventurism on the drums, and Tremonti getting to rip 6 solos on this disc. Creed is also a stronger unit when they don’t rely on massive hooks all the time. I’ll still never understand why people don’t like Stapp’s voice. He doesn’t have the greatest range (probably about 2 octaves), but he makes up for it with a timbre and power that I’ve heard few people match. Best 5 songs? “Overcome”, “A Thousand Faces”, “Rain”, “Full Circle”, “Away in Silence”. Great CD, highly recommended!
This is a spot on review.
You obviously hate Creed. Why are you reviewing an album by them? I agree, the record seems a little bland but you can’t argue that the musicianship is there. And Scott seems to have reached a place in his life where he finally has found peace. You should be happy for him. Harsh!