If you are a fan of emo, pop/rock, and alternative rock, but find yourself growing tired of the same old sound, a new sound has recently emerged. The “band,” or actually individual, who possesses this new sound, is on the rise, while capturing fans rapidly. Dashboard Confessional creates somewhat simple, but masterfully emotional, soothing, interesting, and entertaining music, all at once.

Singer/songwriter Chris Carraba is the man behind Dashboard Confessional.

Dashboard is a solo project by Carraba, who recently vacated his spot as the front man for emo/punk band Further Seems Forever. Carraba wanted to try something new, and luckily for music fans like myself he seems to have made a very successful choice.

The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most is the newest Dashboard album, which was released on March 20. Two other albums have also been released so far, one of which is an EP titled Drowning. The other is Carabba’s first full-length album under the name Dashboard Confessional called The Swiss Army Romance.

With his recent success Carraba has also had a recent label change. Starting out under newly established Drive-Thru records, which hosts popular bands such as Midtown and A New Found Glory in their repertoire, Carraba switched to Vagrant Records for the release of Drowning and The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most.

Another unexpected aspect veteran Dashboard fans will notice on the new album is the incorporation of more background instruments to give the songs a fuller sound. Catchy drumbeats accompany quick acoustic melodies in tracks "Saints and Sailors” and “Again I Go Unnoticed,” along with a few others. The soothing sound of strings provides more feeling in “The Good Fight,” while the most impressive feature is the use of more harmonies, which definitely add excitement or drama to speed and pitch changes.

The highlight of Dashboard and Carraba’s overall talent is his amazing vocals. Carraba’s versatility and passion when belting out meaningful lyrics that inspire both the heart and mind, make for a truly priceless change of pace in today’s music world.

His delivery of screams and high note yelling in the last verses of “This Bitter Pill” are so engulfing and effective it simultaneously gets the point across and stirs up emotion within, a recurring trait of many songs on the album. “The Best Deception” is my personal favorite, with a calm changing- note melody switching to a fast, harmony sparked chorus.

For the punk, emo, rock, or even pop fan who is looking for music with some depth and feeling, I would recommend you give Dashboard Confessional a try. If the acoustic guitar sound isn’t you’re thing, the lyrics and the singing that propels them is enough to impress any music fan.