Dillinger Escape Plan "Dissociation"
Dillinger Escape Plan threw everything they had left into Dissociation, their farewell album. Thankfully, everything they threw stuck too. The mathy syncopations, the operatic shifts in dynamics, the screaming, the searing licks, the Apex Twin-esque sidebars. Seriously, almost every song on this tremendous album has more shifts in style than most artists’ entire catalogs. Guitars stretch as far as they can, while all the while vocalist Greg Puciato channels the simultaneous auras of Mike Patton and Ozzy Osbourne. Check out the as close to a ballad as you’ll get from this record with “Symptom Of Terminal Illness.”
Moby & the Void Pacific Choir "These Systems Are Failing"
Moby is mad as hell, and he’s not gonna take it anymore. These Systems Are Failing (Mute), the debut album from Moby & The Void Pacific Choir, is an overtly political album. The sound of it is a bit of a throwback to his early days with Ultra Vivid Scene and Vatican Commandos, or his late ‘90s alt-record Animal Rights. It would appear that when the going gets tough, Moby turns to hardcore to soothe his savage beast (right there with ya buddy). This time around though, he has added in elements of the electronica he is most famous for. Actual guitars, keyboards; pulsing and distorted, this is the danceable (or at least thrashable) sound of Moby’s disillusionment. Can you blame him? Misery loves company, so check out the Joy Division meets Atari Teenage Riot sounds of “The Light Is Clear In My Eyes.”
Jeff Rosenstock "Worry."
Believe you me, if we had the technology, you would be watching the video for Jeff Rosenstock’s “Wave Goodnight To Me” instead of my goofy blurbs. Why? Because it perfectly encapsulates Jeff in all his ramshackle glory (#teamglumpet). The empowering pop-punk. The glorious DIY-ness. The self-deprecating sense of humor. And don’t forget the hooks. Those candy-coated hooks! At this point, I think everyone knows the ex-Bomb The Music Industry! frontman’s origin story, so you’re likely just ready to dig in to his excellent new release Worry. (Side One Dummy). Far be it from me to keep you from what you wanna do, so check out the aforementioned “Wave Goodnight To Me.”
Golden Suits "Kubla Khan"
Fred Nicolaus, of Department of Eagles, is back with a second album as the impetus behind Golden Suits. Whereas the last self-titled album was a highly literate, meticulous album, Kubla Khan (Hit City USA) is the sound of Fred loosening up. Gone are the fretted over chord voicings. In their place? Some big, bold Petty-esque choruses. Remember choruses? Fred does. Also, his sound is less folk, and more… Hmmm. Music writers haven’t come up with a genre name for the ‘80s throwback-y AOR sounds of bands like The War On Drugs yet, have they? Well, I’m not here to do their job. So whatever that is called, this is that. And then some. Friendly. Sardonic. Clap-a-long-able, stadium sized verses, quiet, intimate moments. This is a dramatic good time, with a bit of everything thrown in for good measure. Check out the Arcade Fire covering Bruce Springsteen sounds of “Gold Feeling.”