Reviewed November 30, 2001
With their first two albums, Creed built a strong reputation for creating top notch music, making their latest, Weathered , just a little disappointing, save for a few songs. Taking the same path as Stabbing Westward, Creed has went mainstream on most of the album. Unlike Stabbing Westward, however, this is Creed, and they will meet success rather than failure with their 2001 release.

That's not to say there aren't a few totally un-radio-friendly (a.k.a., good songs) on Weathered . My favorite track from the new album, "Bullets", will never make it to radio because it is Creed's fiercest song yet, and it's a little too experimental. And maybe if I could translate the Indian chants on "Who's Got My Back Now?", I would like that song more. Otherwise, the chants are just annoying.

I suppose a couple of the good songs might get airplay. "Signs" has enough aggro influence to make it on certain radio stations and maybe MTV2, but the riffs get old after a few listens, and there's really not much lyrical content. "Weathered", on the other hand, could make it to MTV, and it's actually a good song with quality lyrics and good guitar work from Tremonti. "One Last Breath" runs along the same lines as "What's This Life For?", making it a good song and a decent candidate for MTV.

I was happy that the first single, "My Sacrifice", was a better song than "Higher", and even had a fairly good video to go with it. I guess if "Higher" was previously your favorite Creed song, you'll probably like most of the new album, but if "My Own Prison", or "Torn" struck the same chord in your mind as they did in mine, you'll be a bit disappointed with Weathered .

Previous Creed albums had several of my favorite songs of all time ("Torn", "My Own Prison", "Ode", "What If", "Beautiful", "Wrong Way"), but only "Bullets" with it's ferocious lyrics and guitar will make it to my favorites list this time around. Is the dearth of great songs due to the abscence of former bassist Brian Marshall, or are starry-eyed Wind-Up Records executives at fault? Whatever the reason, it's painful to hear my favorite band go downhill.

While the entire album blows away the majority of the crap currently on the radio, it can't compare to Creed's previous efforts, so I give Weathered  3.5 of 5 stars.