15 Greatest Emo Albums Of All Time
13. Dashboard Confessional - A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar
The third full length from Chris Carrabba is a bold statement for his ever-evolving Dashboard Confessional project. Moving away from the predominantly acoustic work of his previous releases, A Mark… sees Carrabba’s intimate approach and revealing lyrics complimented by poppier arrangements and slick production from Pixies collaborator Gil Norton.
Opener and first single “Hands Down” is a jolt of energy, with the none-more-emo refrain “won’t you kill me, so I die happy”. It’s undeniably in the pantheon of great emo smash hits, and the album continues to shift in styles and show off the scope of Carrabba’s ambitious project.
“Morning Calls” combines breezy pop with sinister undertones in its shifting guitar lines, while tracks like "Ghost Of A Good Thing" take us back to the one man and an acoustic days, with Carrabba harmonising with himself for maximum melancholy.
The album helped to propel Dashboard Confessional to the big time, and eventually a full line up beyond Carrabba would be solidified. For that blend of heartbreaking, brittle solo tracks and upbeat smash hits, though, this may be the band’s finest hour.