Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Swiss Army Romance
2. The Best Deceptions
3. Remember To Breathe
4. The Good Fight
5. The Sharp Hint Of New Tears
6. So Impossible
7. The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most
8. Turpentine Chaser
9. Living In Your Letters
10. For You To Notice
11. The Brilliant Dance
12. Screaming Infidelities
13. Saints And Sailors
14. Again I Go Unnoticed
15. Hands Down

Disc 2:

1. Swiss Army Romance (DVD Version 5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
2. The Best Deceptions (DVD Version 5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
3. Remember To Breathe (DVD Version 5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
4. The Good Fight (DVD Version 5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
5. The Sharp Hint Of New Tears (DVD Version 5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
6. So Impossible (DVD Version 5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
7. The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most (DVD Version 5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
8. Turpentine Chaser (DVD Version 5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
9. Living In Your Letters (DVD Version 5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
10. For You To Notice (DVD Version 5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
11. The Brilliant Dance (DVD Version 5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
12. Screaming Infidelities (DVD Version 5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
13. Saints And Sailors (DVD Version 5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
14. Again I Go Unnoticed (DVD Version 5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
15. Hands Down (DVD Version 5.1 Surround Sound Mix)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #65390 in Music
• Released on: 2003-04-28
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: CD+DVD, Live
• Running time: 119 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The MTV Unplugged concept was probably invented with someone like Florida singer-songwriter Chris Carrabba (aka Dashboard Confessional) in mind. Carrabba's relentlessly sad, impossibly frail acoustic songs--which effectively spawned the emo-core genre--have given alienated, cardigan-wearing guys and gals a snappy soundtrack to their pain. Dropping the heavily-inked guitarist amid his flock captures both the intimacy and awkwardness propelling Dashboard Confessional's best songs. Indeed, whether Carrabba is flying solo or is joined by a band, his MTV Unplugged--presented as a CD with an accompanying DVD--ranks as one of the most interactive sets ever; the fans know every single word to every single song and they sing their hearts out, sometimes completely hijacking the choruses. From opening number "Swiss Army Romance" through to "Screaming Infidelities", the assembled holler themselves hoarse in a glassy-eyed solidarity that would be eerie if it weren't so sweet. The sing-along aspect might be a drawback for fans searching for pristine live versions of studio recordings, but then again, Dashboard Confessional's music is nothing if not communal. --Kim Hughes

CD Description
Chris Carrabba, the tortured soul who hides behind the stage name Dashboard Confessional, intros "The Best Deceptions" on his turn at the MTV UNPLUGGED mic with "here's a song about feeling bad and feeling better". That's practically him summing up his songwriting with zen-like simplicity, althoughlike most who get tarred with the emo brush his compositions tend more towards the former. Many can relate and have related to the burning frustration and repeated indignities suffered during futile attempts at finding love and attaching meaning to an often-baffling existence; Carrabba's songs tap into the confusion synonymous with growing up with startlingclarity.
While one could question the necessity of an unplugged record from an acoustic artist with one legitimate full-length album and a couple EPs, there's something eclectic going on in Carrabba's world captured on his volume of MTVUNPLUGGED. While he surely hasn't plugged in as long as he's recorded under current sobriquet, his electricity comes from his winding lyrics. In a live setting, the spark comes from his adoring fans who join him in taut lines like "sit alone and wonder how you're making out but as for me I wish that I was anywhere with anyone making out".

Customer Reviews

Breathtaking...
With Chris Carrabba's newest full length release he brings with him Mike Marsh, Dan Bonebrake and John Lefler, previously only heard on a handful of tracks on their newest full length album "The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most". Although originally starting up Dashboard Confessional as a solo project Chris has further widened his fan base, adding bass guitar and the unbelieveabley talented Mike Marsh on the drums to some old classics such as So Impossible and Remember To Breathe, in the same way the old songs on the new Summer's Kiss EP have been revamped, giving a more upbeat and positive atmosphere around the same depressing words spoken passionately and sometimes screamed along with the crowd who don't miss a word. John Lefler adds subtle but amazingly effective backing guitar and even piano underneath Chris' cutting voice and amazing stage presence, which seems to have the crowd fixated on him as he stands back from the microphone to let them sing the chorus on a few songs. Listening to this cd is like being at one of their concerts, hearing everyone sing along as loud as they can whilst still being able to hear Chris singing clearly

It's amazing to see how far Chris has come since leaving Further Seems Forever to playing on MTV and he has gained more and more popularity and this is a must have for any true Dashboard fan but if you haven't yet heard of Dashboard Confessional then you may want to hear their full length albums first. Also the american version comes with a full DVD of the set which I strongly recommend for those dedicated fans. If you know what to expect from this band then you definately won't be disappointed and it still has a couple of old songs which he's chosen not to play with a full band like The Swiss Army Romance. This is definately worth the money even if you pay just for the new version of Hands Down which is incredible.

The package is made by the DVD.
Without a specific DVD or video by Chris and the DC boys, i was influenced into buying this by the prospect of getting some good, lengthy live footage on the DVD, unlike the short, rather pointless footage on 'A mark, a mission, a brand, a scar'. But, having bourght it now, i have no regrets.

The CD contains a great live set with a brill performance by Chris. The soothing and relaxing tones make it great for those chillout days and evenings. All the favourite songs from the albums are on there, and there's also some of the excellent older songs from the EP's, 'Remeber to breathe' and 'So impossible' to name just two.

The highlight though, as i expected, is the DVD. It's of a lengthy session, played to a small crowd. It contains pretty much the same set as the CD (i think), and shows the band realy enjoying the music they're making so brilliantly.

I'd recommend this to any Dashboard fan, especially if you havent had the chance to see them live yet. Obviously the atmosphere's better live, but this CD + DVD makes a good substitue for when the band aren't touring the UK.

Really like this...
I can understand why some don't like this, especially when sometimes the quality vocals are slightly unheard above the sound of the crowd.

But the fact is that any fan of Dashboard will know the songs really well already, and so hearing the crowd in my view only really adds to the atmosphere and provides different versions of familiar tracks: such as on Hands Down and Again I go unnoticed where there is a more rocky aspect.

The standout track is Swiss Army Romance, which is awesome however you hear it. But there isn't a bad track on this album.

The fact that the CD also features the performances on DVD is also very appealing...