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
ReleasedFebruary 9, 2018 (2018-02-09)[1]
GenreAlternative rock[2]
Length29:37
LabelFueled by Ramen
Dashboard Confessional chronology
Covered and Taped
(2017)
Crooked Shadows
(2018)
All the Truth That I Can Tell
(2022)

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 edit

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 edit

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic57/100[18]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [19]
Clash8/10[20]
Drowned in Sound8/10[21]
Exclaim!6/10[2]
Pitchfork4.7/10[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 edit

All tracks are written by Chris Carrabba, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(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"
  • Carrabba
  • Armon Jay Cheek
  • Jonathan Howard
2:49
7."Open My Eyes" (featuring Lindsey Stirling)
  • Carrabba
  • Mark Webb
3:43
8."Be Alright"
  • Carrabba
  • Corey James Bost
  • Clark
3:02
9."Just What to Say" (featuring Chrissy Costanza of Against The Current)
  • Carrabba
  • Cheek
3:31

Personnel edit

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 edit

Chart (2018) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[25] 53
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[26] 4
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[27] 4

References edit

  1. ^ a b 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.
  2. ^ a b Bowles, Beth (February 2, 2018). "Exclaim! Review". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  3. ^ "Dashboard Confessional". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  4. ^ Dickman, Maggie (November 15, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional announce first new album in eight years, release new song—listen". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  5. ^ AltPress (December 18, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional team up with electronic trio Cash Cash for new song". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  6. ^ Cash Cash (December 15, 2017). Cash Cash & Dashboard Confessional - Belong. Retrieved June 13, 2020 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ AltPress (December 20, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional's "We Fight" video is a captivating work of art—watch". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Dickman, Maggie (January 19, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional shares stripped-down new song "Heart Beat Here"". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  10. ^ AltPress (December 6, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional's comeback album to feature ATC's Chrissy Costanza". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  11. ^ Dickman, Maggie (December 4, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional announce U.S. headlining tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  12. ^ Casteel, Beth (May 14, 2018). "All Time Low and Dashboard Confessional announce co-headlining tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Fair, Anna (September 26, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional cancel shows this weekend". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  15. ^ Shoemaker, Whitney (September 30, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional pull from Summer Ever After Tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  16. ^ Fair, Anna (November 15, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional drop new video and other news you might have missed today". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  17. ^ Fueled by Ramen (November 15, 2018). Dashboard Confessional: Just What To Say (ft. Chrissy Costanza) [OFFICIAL VIDEO]. Retrieved June 13, 2020 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ a b "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  19. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  20. ^ Beech, Dave (February 26, 2018). "Clash Magazine Review". Clash. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  21. ^ Siregar, Cady (February 8, 2018). "Drowned in Sound Review". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  22. ^ Hogan, Marc (February 10, 2018). "Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  23. ^ Hopper, Jessica (February 9, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional, Emo Icon, Makes Stadium-Size Return". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  24. ^ "Album of the Year Review". Album of the Year. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  25. ^ "Dashboard Confessional Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  26. ^ "Dashboard Confessional Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  27. ^ "Dashboard Confessional Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2018.