He combines compelling acoustic guitars and passionate, heart-rending vocals, but who exactly is the force behind Dashboard Confessional? He's the former frontman of Further Seems Forever, Chris Carrabba. He released his solo debut album, The Swiss Army Romance, on Drive-Thru Records in November of last year. The album was comprised of eleven consistently good melodic tracks, which gained Carrabba a faithful following reminiscent of that of Jeff Buckley.

Carrabba's influences include The Beach Boys, The Cure, Elvis Costello, and The Refused. These artists left a lasting impression on Carrabba, which is gracefully reflected in his writing. The new album doesn't stray too far from his debut. It consists of all-acoustic guitar driven arrangements, with the occasional appearance of drums and bass. His combination of melody, ingenious lyricism, and energy is the driving force behind the mask. And although I rated this album as I did, it's still my favorite album of the year. It left a vivid impression of hope and passion. That alone is hard to come by with music these days.