- The End
- Just a Man
- Grave Digging
- The Way That You Are
- 5805
- Salt in the Snow
- Abracadavers
- R and R
- God and Drugs
- Medisin
- The Ascent
- Sing
- Everything
- Closer Than We Think
- The Beginning
Let's dive in by noting that The Classic Crime began with excellence in 2006. Though the Seattle band has not yet become a household name, they've attracted over 3 million plays at their MySpace page and with 4,000 copies of their impressive 2006 debut Albatross sold in the first week of release, they've had the highest debut sales in the history of Tooth & Nail. So is it fair to say that The Classic Crime could become "the next big thing" with their sophomore effort?
Impossible to predict, but the band have clearly made the effort to improve with
The overall sound is bigger and more expansive than the previous album, never settling for the formulaic rut that most emo-laced modern rock settles for. "Sing" and "Grave Digging" are certainly in line with the driving modern rock we're accustomed to from such bands, but "5805" instantly grabs the ear with its rock-waltz feel and "Closer Than We Think" even begins with a slight reggae influence.
It's worth mentioning that since last album, The Classic Crime has officially stated that they are not "exclusively" a Christian band. Yet it's also clear that faith and spirituality still play significant parts in the themes and song lyrics. MacDonald even notes that the album title dates back to
These messages are admittedly sometimes confusing—"Everything," for example, depicts giving in to lust. Yet there are redemptive qualities as well, like the prideful shortcomings of humanity expressed in "Just a Man," or "God and Drugs" declaring that addictions are a poor substitute for our heart's true desire. In this way, the album could be viewed as a portrayal of the stuff that competes for our soul in this life. As such, I caution against