Dismemberment Plan - Change

by Benjamin Howarth

published: 27 / 4 / 2002

Label: Desoto
Format: CD

intro

Difficult, but rewarding second album from the highly rated Washington DC emo group, the Dismemberment Plan

The Dismemberment Plan are one of the most respected bands in the Washington DC area. This is their second album, and has been produced by J.Robbins of Burning Airlines fame. It is not the sort of thing that one would describe as being immediate, for a number of reasons. Firstly, singer Travis Morrison has a very odd voice that takes a while to get used to. Also, the band play in a peculiar style,combining post-hardcore with pop songs and even funk rhythms. It, again, takes a bit of getting used to. The Dismemberment Plan are an exciting group, but one that need several sittings to fully digest. Isn’t that a good thing? Once you become used to the weird noise that comes out of the speakers, it becomes clear what a strong record 'Change' is. Perhaps it is not the greatest album ever to come out of the emo scene, but it is still a refreshing one with some fine songs. 'Superpowers', perhaps the closest emo will ever come to a chart pop song, is my current favourite. The band don’t really focus around guitar playing as such, more in their tightness as a unit with drums right up high in the mix and perhaps this is the reason they sound so strange. At times though the band are happy to make it all a bit more straightforward and just rock out, which gives the album the variety it needs and maintains interest. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that this will appeal to people uninterested by emo and post-hardcore, because it won’t and cannot be described as a classic. But at the same time it a is pretty impressive album , and is a release that confirms that emo will continue to thrive and to develop for a while yet. The band has toured Britain a few times, and is gradually building up a fanbase. I think the next time they come back they should see a bigger turnout. 'Change' is a good album, and whilst not as important to the development of emo as The Appleseed Cast’s 'Low Level Owl' double album, it was still one of the end of last year's most progressive and challenging outings.

Track Listing:-

1 Sentimental Man
2 The Face Of The Earth
3 Super Powers
4 Pay For The Piano
5 Come Home
6 Secret Curse
7 Automatic
8 Following Through
9 Time Bomb
10 The Other Side
11 Ellen And Ben