It’s easy to hear why Creed was such a colossal presence in the post-grunge era’s heyday. The combination of Scott Stapp’s deep, emotive vocals and Mark Tremonti’s dexterous guitar-playing (which ranges from quiet, incandescent melodies to monster-sized riffs) yielded some of the era’s most powerful and poignant anthems. The transcendent “With Arms Wide Open” and the muscled-up overdrive of “Are You Ready?” are glowing examples of Creed’s ability to craft hits both heavy and accessible, while the righteous riff of “Higher” earns them a permanent spot in alt-rock heaven.