Crooked Shadows

Crooked Shadows
Studio album by Dashboard Confessional
Released	February 9, 2018 (2018-02-09)[1]
Genre	Alternative rock[2]
Length	29:37
Label	Fueled by Ramen
Dashboard Confessional chronology
Covered and Taped (2017) Crooked Shadows (2018) All the Truth That I Can Tell (2022)

Crooked Shadows is the seventh studio album by American rock band Dashboard Confessional. It was released on February 9, 2018 through Fueled by Ramen and Dine Alone Records.[1] It is their first studio album in nine years, following 2009's Alter the Ending.

The album debuted at number 53 on the Billboard 200, as well as number four on both the Billboard Rock Albums and Alternative Albums charts.[3]

Release

On November 15, 2017, "We Fight" premiered on Beats 1. Alongside this, Crooked Shadows was announced for release in February the following year.[4] On December 18, a music video was released for "Belong",[5] directed by Joe Zohar.[6] Two days later, a music video was released for "We Fight", directed by David Mack.[7] In early January 2018, the band performed the track on Conan.[8] On January 19, "Heart Beat Here" was made available for streaming.[9] Crooked Shadows was released on February 9 through Fueled by Ramen.[10]

In February and March 2018, the group embarked on a headlining US tour with support from Beach Slang.[11] In August, they went on a co-headlining US tour with All Time Low.[12] A second leg was planned to follow in September and October,[13] however, the day before this was to start, the band pulled out of a few days due to Carrabba dealing with a family emergency.[14] Four days later, the group pulled out of the second leg entirely.[15] On November 15, a music video was released for "Just What to Say",[16] directed by Ryan Hamblin.[17]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	57/100[18]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[19]
Clash	8/10[20]
Drowned in Sound	8/10[21]
Exclaim!	6/10[2]
Pitchfork	4.7/10[22]
Rolling Stone	[23]

Crooked Shadows was met with "mixed or average" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 57, based on 9 reviews.[18] Aggregator Album of the Year gave the album 60 out of 100 based on a critical consensus of 9 reviews.[24]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Chris Carrabba, except where noted

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"We Fight"		3:25
2.	"Catch You"		3:06
3.	"About Us"	Carrabba Jonathan Clark Ross Copperman Ryan Follese	3:36
4.	"Heart Beat Here"		3:27
5.	"Belong" (with Cash Cash)		2:58
6.	"Crooked Shadows"	Carrabba Armon Jay Cheek Jonathan Howard	2:49
7.	"Open My Eyes" (featuring Lindsey Stirling)	Carrabba Mark Webb	3:43
8.	"Be Alright"	Carrabba Corey James Bost Clark	3:02
9.	"Just What to Say" (featuring Chrissy Costanza of Against The Current)	Carrabba Cheek	3:31

Personnel

Dashboard Confessional

• Chris Carrabba – lead vocals, guitar, keyboard
• Benjamin Homola – drums, percussion
• Armon Jay – guitar, backing vocals
• Scott Schoenbeck – bass, keyboard

Technical personnel

• Jonathan Clark – producer, engineer
• Chris Carrabba – producer
• Jonathan Howard – producer and engineer (track 6), additional instrumentation
• Colin Brittain – co-producer, mixing, additional instrumentation
• Chad Gilbert – additional production (track 2)
• Cash Cash – producer and mixing (track 5)
• Ben Sabin – recording, additional mixing, additional instrumentation
• Ted Jensen – mastering
• Jack Barakat – additional instrumentation
• Lee Cunningham – additional instrumentation
• Dylan Meek – additional instrumentation
• Cheyenne Sabin – additional instrumentation

Charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[25]	53
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[26]	4
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[27]	4

References

1. Rogers, Jack (November 16, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional Have Announced Their New Album". Rocksound.tv. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
2. Bowles, Beth (February 2, 2018). "Exclaim! Review". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
3. "Dashboard Confessional". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
4. Dickman, Maggie (November 15, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional announce first new album in eight years, release new song—listen". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
5. AltPress (December 18, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional team up with electronic trio Cash Cash for new song". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
6. Cash Cash (December 15, 2017). Cash Cash & Dashboard Confessional - Belong. Retrieved June 13, 2020 – via YouTube.
7. AltPress (December 20, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional's "We Fight" video is a captivating work of art—watch". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
8. Tullio, Lauren (January 17, 2018). "Waterparks release new song "Not Warriors" and other news you might have missed today". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
9. Dickman, Maggie (January 19, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional shares stripped-down new song "Heart Beat Here"". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
10. AltPress (December 6, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional's comeback album to feature ATC's Chrissy Costanza". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
11. Dickman, Maggie (December 4, 2017). "Dashboard Confessional announce U.S. headlining tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
12. Casteel, Beth (May 14, 2018). "All Time Low and Dashboard Confessional announce co-headlining tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
13. Darus, Alex (June 25, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional, All Time Low announce second leg of 'The Summer Ever After' tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
14. Fair, Anna (September 26, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional cancel shows this weekend". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
15. Shoemaker, Whitney (September 30, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional pull from Summer Ever After Tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
16. Fair, Anna (November 15, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional drop new video and other news you might have missed today". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
17. Fueled by Ramen (November 15, 2018). Dashboard Confessional: Just What To Say (ft. Chrissy Costanza) [OFFICIAL VIDEO]. Retrieved June 13, 2020 – via YouTube.
18. "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
19. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
20. Beech, Dave (February 26, 2018). "Clash Magazine Review". Clash. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
21. Siregar, Cady (February 8, 2018). "Drowned in Sound Review". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
22. Hogan, Marc (February 10, 2018). "Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
23. Hopper, Jessica (February 9, 2018). "Dashboard Confessional, Emo Icon, Makes Stadium-Size Return". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
24. "Album of the Year Review". Album of the Year. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
25. "Dashboard Confessional Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
26. "Dashboard Confessional Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
27. "Dashboard Confessional Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2018.