In a way, it's hard not to feel at least a little sorry for Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba.

Sure, the emo singer-guitarist is on top of the world right now. He's become the poster boy for sensitive guys and teenage angst. His pretty-boy looks and punk-cred tattoos have helped make him an MTV god. Every time he plays a gig every kid in the audience sings every line of every song along with him.

With his fourth release A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar, he's made perhaps the strongest album of his career -- a cohesive, aggressive set of emo-pop fuelled by his chiming guitars, openhearted lyrics, romantic melodies and vocals that move gracefully from an intimate whisper to a yearning yowl.

And when you put that all together, there's little doubt he seems destined to become the reigning teenage idol of his generation.

But that's why we feel sorry for Carrabba -- 'cause he deserves better than to be tossed aside in a few years for the next non-threatening cutie-pie like every other teen idol.

And if he thinks life sucks now, well, just wait till he's playing classic rock fests with Justin Timberlake and appearing in his own Behind the Music episode in 2008.

Then he'll really have something to be sorry about.

Track Listing
1. Hands Down
2. Rapid Hope Loss
3. As Lovers Go
4. Carry This Picture
5. Bend and Not Break
6. Ghost of a Good Thing
7. Am I Missing
8. Morning Calls
9. Carve Your Heart Out Yourself
10. So Beautiful
11. Hey Girl
12. If You Can't Leave it Be, Might as Well Make it Bleed
13. Several Ways to Die Trying