I will say this only once so read carefully:
Creed might be one of the best bands of all-time.
MIGHT BE.
I know the first thing to do when you hear the name, "Creed" is probably projectile vomit towards the nearest radio, instrument, or computer, but I point you to the facts. The local startup band out of Tallahassee, Florida only released three albums. Each one achieved platinum status with Human Clay selling over 11 million albums in the U.S. alone! That ranks as the 54th best selling album of all time. Sure you could say that the CD was a smash hit because of single, "Higher" and "With Arms Wide Open," but they followed it with six times platinum smash hit, Weathered.
You could cite Britney Spears as evidence for mega selling albums with lackluster talent truly deserving the numbers, but Scott Stapp and Co. deserves more credit than that. They had a subtle knack for punching power chords during verses and choruses while switching to acoustic plucks during a bridge to create an ambiance unique to their own. Pearl Jam Lite might be their alias. Rising from their ashes, Creed became a welcome head-banging, fist-clenching, remembrance of the Seattle quartet. From the guttural over-enunciated, all-too-familiar vernacular of Scott Stapp to the religious anecdote in every other line, Creed developed a formula that set the standard in the late 90s rock scene. They created beautiful music fused with crashing violins that Pearl Jam could only dream of achieving. They crafted songs with arena-sized sounds. Truly epic was what they aimed for.
As a test, I listened to their entire discography in one sitting from "Torn" (My Own Prison) to "Lullaby" (Weathered) to see how the songs stood against the test of time. It's probably been several years since I've revisited the songs with a critical ear. Practically all of My Own Prison seems bloated and easily discarded besides perhaps because it was recorded on a $6,000 budget but, "What's This Life For," stands as a preface to what Creed would eventually become. A Heavy/Alt group that used Stapp's vocals in juxtaposition with echoed effects and Tremonti's backup vocals. It also features their knack to break into a lighter, acoustic bridge eventually leading into a heavy, layered sound that highlights their "inspirational" message.
Chances are if you didn't like "Higher" or "With Arms Wide Open," you aren't going to like them now, but in terms of heavy rock ballads, Creed had some of the best ever. Lyrically, this band does nothing to change the landscape at all, but from the first track to the last track on Human Clay, it never seems to lose its pace or relevance to the overall album. While they get a knock for sounding repetitious, each song digs its own groove and honestly, this album still stands out as a gem in the post-grunge alt/rock world. "What If," "Never Dies," and "Inside Us All" are standouts besides the smash hits.
Weathered stayed atop the charts for 8 straight weeks which is almost unheard of in recent history. Starting an unrelenting attack with the doomed single, "Bullets," the album gathered momentum with "Who's Got My Back?" and "My Sacrifice." Perhaps the most beloved track, "Don't Stop Dancing" features Stapp's sister, Amy Stapp. Following their enigmatic formula, this song often capitalizes the beauty in their streamlined approach to crafting a song. It's hard to just fathom how they could take such mediocre melodies and get as much out of it as they did. I'm sure their producer, John Kurzweg, deserves a big amount of that credit.
Regardless of the accolades, their legacy will undoubtedly fade as they were only able to keep the harmony for a handful of years, but Scott Stapp will forever be one of the most polarizing figures in history. I don't know if it's a scientific fact, but it seems that men with butt chins aren't received with much fanfare and the belief stays true in this case as well. The hate he and his clefted chin accrues seems a bit unnecessary, but understandable. The band misstepped here and there. Most of it being summed up by this God-awful video: Bullets. If you made it all the way through that video...you're better than me. Somehow the image of Stapp with wings will never quite leave my life alone. Stapp is pretentious, egotistical, melodramatic, and hypocritical, but will remain one of my favorite frontmen ever. And with the notch of selling almost 20 million albums in the U.S., I don't think I'm the only one.
Which begs to ask the question...given a couple more albums to their resume, could have Creed been the best band ever?
"What If" - my favorite single
"With Arms Wide Open" - 2001 - Best Rock Song (Grammy and most critically acclaimed single)
This. Is. Truth.
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