The Dismemberment Plan - Change

The Dismemberment Plan surprised alot of people last year with their release Emergency & I (Desoto). Aside from the critical acclaims and the opening slot for Pearl Jam on their European tour, Dismemberment Plan really made a mark for themselves. Typically a band would crack under the pressure of such success and follow it up with an album of predictable crap. This is, fortunately, not the case with the latest release from The Dismemberment Plan entitled Change. The album is, as the title suggests, a subtle Change from their earlier style. This album seems more mature in it's songwriting style. Where Emergency & I told stories of experiences and observations, Change is more introspective and personal. The beginning track "Sentimental Man" starts the album off with the lyrics "There's no heaven, and there's no hell." Frontman and lead writer Travis Morrison continues to look inwardly throughtout the album on songs like "Time Bomb", "Following Through", and "Superpowers." However, the bands nack for writing stories through song hasn't been lost, as is evident on the closer track "Ellen & Ben" - which is quite reminscent of the way all Dismemberment Plan albums end, with a song that just screams to be played out for hours on end in concert. Other songs like "Pay For the Piano" lyrically have the mild introspective feel that most of their songs do, mixed with some sort of observation on the world. But what about musically? It's nice to hear that lyrically they haven't lost it, and have in fact probably taken their skills to the next level but does this album compare to the aforementioned critically acclaimed Emergency & I? I can honestly say that, in my opinion, it most certainly does. Any Plan fan who is familiar with their musical history can see the trend of them relying less and less on crazy sounds and samples and more on interesting rhythmns, harmonies, and overall flow. (Sure, they put out the single "The Dismemberment Plan Gets Rich" that had more insane samples than any other song they've done, but that one didn't make the album.) Songs like "Time Bomb" use subtle off-key harmonies that fit the mood of the song perfectly. "Following Through" creates an easy going flow that begs your head to nod. Whereas "The Other Side" and "Secret Curse" get you a bit more pumped up. These descriptions may sound a bit cheesy (okay, overly cheesy) but thats the simplest way to describe the way that this album pulls you in. It is as if the group has gone from being a hyperactive six-year old to being a concerned adult. Not to say that the album is boring, but it's not as kitschy as the previous, mature is the only word that captures its essence. Change is a shining example of a band growing and improving by leaps and bounds throughout their career. If they had an A&R agent, I'm sure he'd be proud. Overall the album isn't as intense or humorous as the previous efforts, but the subtle harmonies, catchy lyrics, and overall flow of the album set The Dismemberment Plan up to be among the list of "Underappreciated Indie Bands Of The Year." [www.dismembermentplan.com]