General Chat / Album Review Indie / Rock

I've put this together (while at school) in a couple of days. It probably will be published, so any
criticism's, grammatical corrections etc, will be much appreciated. Cheers.

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The Dismemberment Plan - Emergency and I

I kind of regret missing records like these. They only come along once every decade, and usually when they do, they are ignored due to the fact that the record company can’t afford to pay NME / MTV to advertise / review their band / record or give it a bit of screen time. This, plus the fact that the Dismemberment Plan found themselves cut from Interscope records (due to not being sell-outs) after having just completed a new record (a situation that arose again in 2002 when Wilco’s brilliant “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” was canned) didn’t exactly help either. So in 1999, after having re-signed to DeSoto records, the aptly named “Emergency and I” was finally released.

“Emergency and I” is the kind of record that can change your perception of how good Rock n’ Roll can get. Not only does it single handily sound completely unique in an increasingly recycled genre, it somehow, at the same time, sounds irresistibly like every record you own. It draws (inspiration) from the Pixies, Joy Division, Talking Heads, Radiohead and Sonic Youth, while still remaining sonically exceptional. By somehow avoiding the dregs of modern music and snorting up (Pete Doherty style) the best of the 90’s Indie Pop scene, “Emergency and I” emerges as a record that drips emotion, energy and an enraging intensity, an hallmark ever missing from the current rock climate.

“Emergency and I” may not be the anti-rock, but it sure feels like one. Unlike your per usual climax-building opener, “A Life of Possibilities” drives into the vocals within a second, the bass squelching under the trembling of Travis Morrison’s vocals, before satisfyingly soaring to a shimmering climax. While “A Life of Possibilities” thematically hints at social isolation, the staggering “The City” oozes alienation while still remaining uplifting. The synth bass riff swoops and dives over the automated, chiming guitars while the drums clatter and crash like a rocket-propelled tube train. Morrison’s delivery aches loss in love against the contrasting buzz and bustle of city life; “The parks lay empty like my unmade bed / The streets are silent like my lifeless telephone / And this is where I live / But I’ve never felt less at home”. Never has such a masterpiece received such little public adoration; it’s a crying shame.

Morrison’s ability to change singing styles in little to no time is highlighted in the frenetic “I Love A Magician”, as delivery changes from almost crazed in the verses, to harmonious in the chorus. In the supreme slice of Indie Pop pie “Gyroscope” and the uber-Weezer style of “What Do You Want Me To Say?” Morrison hints at an ever-growing frustration with his relationships with the female kind while still remaining unnervingly catchy. “You Are Invited” sees, much akin to their previous records single: “Ice Of Boston”, Morrison narrating a story that revolves around the receiving of a magical invitation that allows access to all the much sought after hotspots. The electronic flickers and drum machine line, climax into the pop-rock chorus before descending back into a comforting final encore.

The renaissance of keyboards in rock music continues on the beautiful “Spider In The Snow”, the false orchestral opening swelling into a panic struck miasma of melody, while Morrison’s sentiments swoon over the top; “The only thing worse than bad memories / Is no memories at all”. “Memory Machine” rides on a cascade of pre-Kid A computer noises and streaming guitars that ring incessantly while the chorus wallows in glowing electronic majesty, sharply contrasting against the futile lyrics (“Someday I’m telling you / They’ll make a memory machine / To wax our hearts to a blinding sheen / To wash away the grief).

The albums finale is perhaps the most breathtaking. The penultimate song “8 ½ Minutes” screeches with a raging confusion; the lurching opening lines: “I launched all the world’s nukes this morning / hoping it would kick-start something” scarring you for life whilst the guitars slice and dice in the background. The dance / funk / punk bass and drum of the closer’s “Back And Forth” are horrifically infectious, as a possessed Morrison sings at an unnerving tempo before becoming almost dangerously passive in the anthemic chorus. The subtle keyboard hooks and edged guitar giving an unbalance mood suited to the song. As the wavering keyboard line screams and the guitars fuzz uncontrollably, the album slinks into its unwanted final silence.

“Emergency and I” should have been huge but such innovation is rarely greeted with open arms. The sole fact that “Emergency and I” still sounds unique six years on is proof of its brilliance (and also proof that Interscope don’t know shit about music). The lyric booklet reads better than half the novels I’ve read whilst singularly relating to everything I’ve ever known. The Dismemberment Plan have managed to forge an album that is almost life changing. It surpasses any expectation I’ve had for modern rock music and shows how a touch of ingenuity and originality can go a long way. In the fray of the modern rock rip-off scene, “Emergency and I” shines brighter than Johnny Borrell’s ego after an NME interview. This is how Rock music should be made.

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It needs some adjustment, so any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

*stargazer*

I PMed some changes to you. It looks like I might be buying this album after all, if not just for the artwork!

It would help aswell if, someone, anyone, told me if the review makes them interested in the album, i.e interested enough to download a couple of their tracks etc.

I'm interested now, and I've never heard of the band.
Know anywhere where I can legally listen to a couple of the songs, or slips of them?

You can download What Do You Want Me To Say? and The City from their website, www.dismembermentplan.com

I've heard a song by them on XMU... It was very interesting, it wasn't what I'd call catchy or "punk bass" (WTF?). It was more of a somewhat progressive feeling, early emo sound; lots of clean guitar patters (see Faraquet, more complicated than Discemberment Plan, though) with a shaky but good drummer to back. The vocals, I don't remember them too well--because I'm a drummer, but if I'm not mistaken, they were a bit soft for the song and were kind of weak and wavery. Not that I mind that too much, I'm used to it from Sunny Day Real Estate and Mineral.

I've only heard one song though, so maybe I'm not informed enough to make this statement (I'm not even sure if the song I heard was even off this album), but I do think you're playing it up a little. It's definately a good read though.


Anyways, some grammar and what not:

"...have been huge <needs comma here> but such innovation..."

Uh... I prefer while to whilst, which you've used twice towards the end of the article. Consider changing one, or switching one with a "while" towards the top of the article.

Songs are in quotes and albums are italicized or underlined. Quotes for a part of the whole, italics for the whole work--a little rule my English teachers over the years have drilled into my head.

"an hallmark" should be "a hallmark," unless you talk like a brit. (dunno if you are one or not, though)

Maybe you are because you use "tube train;" people around hear would be lost if they heard that... maybe a different simile would be better there, because when I play my kit, it does not sound like a subway train.

"...aches loss in love against the..." That's a bit confusing.

You have to be joking. Your review did interest me, but the music you described, well, wasn't what I heard. What I heard was one of the least interesting, and original, bands ever. It's just run of the mill mathrock, devoid of anything unique, or compelling.

There are hundreds of bands that sound exactly like them, you know! And better! Go fucking read the goddamned Wire, and learn a bit about what your speaking of, and such.

It's just run of the mill mathrock, devoid of anything unique, or compelling.

There are hundreds of bands that sound exactly like them, you know! And better!

exactly.

for the jazzy side of Math Rock, go Faraquet--posibly my most favorite band ever.

and for the hardcore side of the equation, let f(x)=Dillinger Escape Plan.

god, i'm such a math nerd.

Sorry, but I have to agree with pBob and cg?.
The actual music is good, albeit a bit repetitive, however the vocals really turned me off. The singer just didn't sound into the song at all, and was really monotone through both songs. Granted I haven't heard aything else on the album, and the chorus of both songs were pretty well done, but it's nothing I'd have expected from what I read in your review.

I'm sticking with Something Corporate as my current fav band.

SC? lmao.

Firstly what the fuck is Math Rock? Anyone explain.

Secondly, cg? I admire you music taste and daring criticism of practically everything. I just want to know if you have heard the whole album or not. As I cannot see how this album isn't unique. Can you explain that comment and refer to some bands that they sound like? Secondly some of the tracks taken from Change are very weak, so PenguinBob, I wouldn't be surprised if you heard one of those.

Hobbes, I agree with you that the Morrison does seem a little passive at some points in the album. However in "The City", I feel the delivery is only alienated becuase thats the theme of the song, its about being left alone and how such a small thing can change someones attitude towards something so colossal. Download "Gyroscope" or "Girl O' Clock" for the better, energised singing on the album.

Thanks alot for your comments.

Firstly what the fuck is Math Rock?

Can you explain that comment and refer to some bands that they sound like?

Let's do both at the same time! Here you go: Mathrock / Postrock on Epitonic.

And, if you would like to further your education in such things, you might like to look at these too:

20th, and 21st, century composers
Abstract / IDM
Ambient
Drum and bass / Jungle
Experimental
Jazz

Bumped so everyone can known the greatness that is The Dismemberment Plan. A shame that they had to break up.

http://www.dismembermentplan.com/

Go there to download some songs, preferably the ones from Emergency & I. Although you should really hear the whole album.

I like some of their songs, but i'd never go as far as to put them in my favorite band list.

so dismemberment plan has been "dismembered", huh? XD

*hit by a brick for lameness*

Bumped so everyone can known the greatness that is The Dismemberment Plan. A shame that they had to break up.

http://www.dismembermentplan.com/

Go there to download some songs, preferably the ones from Emergency & I. Although you should really hear the whole album.

SHUT THE FUCK UP
NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR MUSIC

lmao.

I was about to buy one of their CD's the other day, until I realized it was a greatest hits sort of thing and I already had about 1/3 of the songs on there.

so dismemberment plan has been "dismembered", huh? XD

*hit by a brick for lameness*

[font="Arial"]I don't feel so stupid knowing someone else thought the same exact thing as me.
As soon as I read that they broke up, the dismemberment thing popped in my head.

Anyway.
I downloaded one of the tracks of their site and it sounds okay. I'm not a fan of it, but maybe other songs will be better.[/font]