Album Reviews

Who here remembers The Dismemberment Plan? Raise your hands! They released a couple of solid albums back in the day (1999’s “Emergency & I”, 2001’s “Change”) and called it a day after that. They became husbands and fathers, went to work for NASA or tried to launch a solo career. Whatever it was they went on to do, they weren’t writing indierock tunes anymore that were like a ride on a rollercoaster. But here we are, twelve years down the line, listening to “Uncanney Valley”.

As it turns out, this is not the same band anymore. Sure, vocalist Travis Morrison still spouts wisecracks pretty much non-stop but he’s not quite as sharp as he used to be. And the same can be said for the guitar riffs while we’re at it. Middle age is all good and well but apparently they do make you hand in your sense of urgency at the door.

It would be unfair to dismiss “Uncanney Valley” though just because the band isn’t as poignant as they used to be. The songs still come with the kind of unexpected twists and turns that are expected from you when you play in The Dismemberment Plan. Opener “No One’s Saying Nothing”, “Mexico City Christmas” and “Go And Get It” are solid indierock tunes and while “White Collar White Trash” isn’t the best song on the album, it has a catchy chorus. Hell, Morrison’s half-formed thoughts might resonate more clearly now with the tweeting, ADHD-riddled youth than they ever did before!