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My Own Prison

Artist: Creed
Genre: Alternative
Year: 1997
Rating: 6 / 10

Creed's My Own Prison, originally recorded for $6,000 in August 1997, has gone on to multi-platinum success, already producing three #1 rock songs. While today's airwaves are literally littered with would-be alternative heroes, Creed's music and messages actually manage to leave a longer-lasting impression. Of course, one of the reasons for this is in the striking similarities presented on all three of their mainstream hits.

Lead vocalist Scott Stapp, raised with an intensely religious background, cites Def Leppard's Pyromania as one of the ground-breaking influences in his life. That should not seem overly surprising, since that classic rock band has likewise been accused of producing a myriad of identical songs. What Creed does well, however, is combine grinding guitars with moral meaning, something not often found in today's music. "What's This Life For," one of the band's trio of hits, implores that we "don't have to settle no goddamn score." While those cutting lyrics might seem to belie any message the band may wish to deliver, they actually speak of man's search for meaning. "Lies are what they tell me." One of the defining points in "Torn," another stellar track from My Own Prison, is the band's statement against oppression, be it seen or unseen.

In the end, Creed delivers a solid effort, though it may not be for everyone. The band's sound can tend to blend with other current acts such as Days of the New and Our Lady Peace, but do not be so easily fooled. While all might seem to be offshoots of alternative pioneer Alice In Chains, Creed clearly is attempting to differentiate their music from the rest. Unfortunately for them, the radio-friendly rhythms of their hits are not captured on the rest of the album, whose remaining tracks could just as easily be found on an album by any of the aforementioned artists. Creed may well be trapped in its own prison, unsure whether to tamper with what has worked or forge ahead in a new artistic direction. Only time will tell...

Submitted 1/15/99.