Customer Reviews

Full Circle (with Bonus DVD)

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I am a long time Creed fan (I had MOP the day it released, and every subsequent album- I've seen Creed in concert 3 times). I was really disappointed when Stapp and Creed broke up. Then I saw the reunion announcement, and I was excited to hear the "new sound", and couldn't wait to buy the album. Let me tell you, if you like Creed, this is a must have for your music library. This is not Alter-Bridge- it's distinctly Creed, but a different Creed than on "Human Clay" (Which I also enjoyed). It seems they have found some sac again and anted up with some sweet rock attitude.

Stapp's lyrics are as inwardly reflective as usual - however, I think he uses more of his voice range in this album vs. past efforts. Tremonti comes through and delivers some raging guitar and tasty licks. Howard Benson's producing is again top-notch...you can definitely feel it's a Benson album straight away.

While I'm not a huge fan of "Bread of Shame" (and yes, I like my rock to rock hard), the rest of the album is quality music. I was pleased to hear more acoustic guitar, and even happier to hear the volume of Stapp's voice nicely matched with Tremonti's guitar. After all, what makes rock rock is a rebellious Strat (or in this case, PRS) cranked up to 11 and screaming.

In short, if your looking for more "Arms Wide Open", you might want to take a pass. If you liked "Bullets", this one will stay in your CD changer for awhile. I know it'll be in mine.

Honestly I really didn't know what to expect of this Cd.. Knowing these guys hadn't made music for over 7 years!! When I heard Of a Creed reunion, I thought to myself.. yea right.. more like cashing in on leftover Alter Bridge riffs!! Boyyy was I wrong! At first listen I was quite confused honestly, as I didn't understand, or rather didn't digest the fact that this is Creed 09! But upon second listen I was hooked!! I have to admit, I'm a fan of both Creed and Alter Bridge. Now Scott Stapp, whether on his own, or with Creed.. IS a quality song writer, and I'm happy to hear the same on this Cd. Coming to the Music.. its no news that Mark Tremonti's guitar skills just kill with every shred and more over, We have all heard him on Creed and on Alter Bridge too. His guitar skills / solos mainly, are the driving force behind both bands, and besides, all band members are more mature now, and have a better understanding of the music they play and its direction. I'd like to think of the music on this Cd like a cross between the Hard Edge Rock of Alter Bridge and the acoustic / electric Nature of Creeds 1st album "My Own Prison" For people looking for "those one or 2 songs" that shine on a Cd and make it so popular that before you know it, it becomes Radio Garbage, and eventually gets retired on Radio Stations... nope.. not here!! This Cd Shines, sure.. but u ain't gonna find another "Arms Wide Open" or "My Sacrifice" here. I wont go in detail with track by track analysis, Simply put this Cd is a great Come Back effort, all the songs are different, and this Cd will stick in your Players for awhile. For old fans and New.. this Cd is a great Buy. Now go "BUY" it ;o)

Creed has never had the critical success of others, despite having incredible financial success. Having recently listened to some of their older work, its really a shame that most critics couldn't get past the "they sound like pearl jam" thing, as they really had some good music. I don't need every album to be as arty as radiohead to enjoy it, and can enjoy Creed's music on its own merits. I guess that's why this album is a bit of a surprise. All Creed had to do is release another album with songs similar to their huge hits like higher and with arms wide open, but they didn't. Instead they did something a little heavier, a little more musicall interesting, and dare I say a little more complex. The good thing about this is it shows them moving into a good musical direction. The bad thing is that it lacks the same catchy hooks of earlier Creed. This is not to say its not good or listenable, it very much is, but it doesn't sound like an album with loads of huge hits (though there are a few contenders). I think this album was a surprising choice, and one that I'm glad Creed made. I'm curious to see where this choice of music that is a little more complex will take them, and if it will bring the respect they've missed most of their careers. Regardless, this is a good album that deserves you giving it a chance.

This album is definitely different from the original grunge sound of My Own Prison and Human Clay. It sounds like modernized rock, with an edge to it. Some of the noteworthy songs are a Thousand Faces, Away in Silence, and Time, for both lyrics and great guitar riffs. It starts out as a very passionate push in Overcome (the first single) to defeat the demons in your life and not to give up, to a bit more tense and mysterious sound in Bread of Shame, where you can't quite get rid of the guilt even if you want to and you have a hard time finding your place in life, to a completely stunning riff lyrically and musically in a Thousand Faces, where you face so many different forms of yourself you don't know quite who you are. Then suddenly SUDDENLY hits, like a crash right before your eyes. You don't know what to do or how to deal with this new introspection to life, but it's time to face up to it. Rain is about washing away all that hatred and pain, and starting a new, cleansing of yourself and your soul. A very soft and mellow ballad that is the second single of the album. Away in Silence has a special piece in it. It was written because back in 2006 when the lead singer of Creed's wife was going to leave him after he would not clean up his life. It is a song begging her not to leave him and for her to be able to love him again although all trust has been broken and there are now only tears left. Fear is a lot like Weathered's Bullet's lyrically and perhaps musically. It seems, although I'm not sure why, to be the one song that really throws a punch out to you. It sounds like the heaviest one on the album and focuses on how change can be quite an impact on your life and a force to be reckoned with. You can't just run from it. On My Sleeve has a somewhat Alter Bridge bluesy sound to it, but combines with it the passion seen on Stapp's solo album, similar to Justify, where it focuses on how your heart is so into something your soul depends on it and how its life startling when this passionate dream does not work out for you. It's a great song for your dreams and goals.
Full Circle, the title of the track has a Southern Rock sound to it with the plucking at the beginning and the melody Stapp sings reminds me of Rhythm of the Night or similar to Melissa Etheridge. It is the song that solidifies that Creed is back, and that they've seen both the good and the bad and now they're in it to stay. Time is sort of confusing to describe lyrically. It is a very long and bluesy song about how Time makes things so distant and can be more of an enemy than a friend. It's definitely worth listening to for Tremonti's solo. Good Fight has a feel like Stapp's solo song Reach Out. It's a bit too rough around the edges, especially at the end when he leaves it off. It's about fighting for the good and against the bad. It's pretty much the easiest way to describe it. The Song You Sing is very sweet musically, but lyrically could be improved. I feel it's about how Stapp hopes he can touch this world with his words and be an inspiration.

Overall, Good Fight is a 7 or 8 out of 10, The Song You Sing perhaps an 8 or a 9 and the rest near a 10. It's a great album with different themes, but it takes a few good listens before you get a feel for the new sound that they have and get used to it. Think Scott Stapp solo driving hard into Alter Bridge's Blackbird and you sort of get this combination, but it feels like a natural evolution for them, not a push like Weathered was.

I've been anticipating this album since last spring when I heard that Creed was getting back together. The first time I listened to this album I was disappointed, the music seemed forced to me. I had heard Rain and Overcome before the album came out and didn't seem impressed by the rest of the songs. However, I decided to listen to the album a few more times and I'm glad I did. The songs on this record get better and better the more you listen to them. Fear, A Thousand Faces, and Bread of Shame are songs that I didn't like at first, but now love. On My Sleave is one of the highlights, with an amazing chorus. If you're wondering whether to get this album, I'd say it's definately worth it. Give the album a few spins through and it'll grow on ya quickly.

Have always been a fan of the band, specially the rhythm section; Am a huge Scott Phillips fan, has a great style and is completely self taught! Have listened to the new album 4 times through and keeps growing; loved it on first play; but even more after and after...
This is where modern rock should be; am happy with the mastering and just a great release!!!

Super Super rock album. The musicality and lyrics of this release put it leagues above anything else released recently in this genre.
In addition, Scott Stapp's awesome pipes and the guitar work are incredible.
I'm a bit surprised that reviewers had not taken more notice of Rain - track 5.

[take 2]
OK I had to add to this review. After 10 days of listening, I have to say I'm really bowled over by this album. Stapp and Tremonti (the composers) lead us through a highly personal and emotional journey from beginning to end. It all hits you after a number of listens and attention to the lyrics.

Tracks 1-2 are the lead-in which I kind of notice less right now. Track 3 - "A thousand faces" starts the discussion and hints at what's coming with "You believe your own lies/dug my grave...trashed my name". Then Track 4 - "Suddenly" is where it all kicks into gear with "Suddenly my world falls apart/ I have no strength at all/ I've been hit with a loss". The crescendo continues into 5 - Rain and oh-so-brilliant 6 - "Away in Silence" with the cry "If my life is the price/ then my life it will cost". 7 - "Fear", 8 - "On My Sleeve" and 9 - "Full Circle" are reflective lyrically while full of riffs and hooks as the album continues to gather energy. Then comes 10 - "Time" the ultimate masterpiece with the eternal message "Hey time - you're no friend of mine...will you be there to catch me when I fall?". 11 - "Good Fight" and 12 - "The Song you Sing" are the conclusive and somewhat optimistic signoffs - the latter also offering a surprisingly strong musical end after all the preceding brilliance. "I hope the words I wrote...Keep calling out forever" - indeed they will brothers.

[...]
Thank you Creed for this wonderful gift. The heart that is on your sleeve is now mine.

Ok first off, I have always been a Creed/Alter Bridge/Scott Stapp fan. I loved all their albums but always preferred the heavier side of Creed. Well, this album DEFINITELY delivers that (and more). This album is amazing from start to finish. Tremonti delivers some amazing guitar riffs (as he always does) layered with Stapps new style of vocals makes this album a near perfect 10 for me. This album has a great variety of music and really shows the talent these guys have. The song writing is top notch, no filler songs here folks, any song on this album could be a big hit. IT IS THAT GOOD. Great Creed album to date, period. Standout tracks are are A Thousand Faces, Away In Silence, Fear, On My Sleeve, Full Circle, Time, and The Song You Sing. If you are fan of rock please pick this album up, even if you hated Creed before you should still give it a chance because this definitely isn't the Creed of old. This is Creed 2009!!! \m/

Tremonti was right. This is a new Creed. In the past, their main focus was to be radio friendly but luckily for this album it is about just letting it all out musically. This is a great comeback for the band and I highly recommend it.

Ok, so I admit up front, I am a Creed fan. That being said, I immediately liked every cut as I heard them. I won't go into a song by song review. But, the major strengths of this recording are cleaner vocals by Stapp, impecable guitar work by Tremonti, and of course the rythim section is great. My only complaint would be that they never let Tremonti expand on his riffs. There could have been more guitar solos and when they were there, the producer must have cut them short. I guess the producer was pushing for a more radio friendly CD. That's a shame because Creed can stand on their own without the radio. In my opinion however, this is the best Creed effort yet and I hope we see more.