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 (Party Smasher Inc/Riot)
Dillinger’s fourth album just as hard to categorise as last two
If you haven’t heard already, the fourth LP from New Jersey crazies The Dillinger Escape Plan takes its name from the margins of Generation X. Douglas Coupland’s tale of suburban woe, alienation and apathy that falls somewhere between mildly uplifting and downright depressing. Describing a state where “the tendency, given unlimited choices, to make none”, the term Option Paralysis relates to the book’s jaded protagonists Claire, Andy and Dagmar; three individuals who have dropped out of life. Hardly then could the same term be applied to The Dillinger Escape Plan. Faced with the unlimited choices of their expansive sonic palette, instead of doing nothing, Dillinger have written a brilliant, schizophrenic record. Rather than the defined radio-friendly singles that characterised 2007’s Ire Works, Option Paralysis is more aligned with 2004’s Miss Machine, tracks like lead single Farewell, Mona Lisa and Gold Teeth On A Bum are messy amalgams of Greg Puciato’s soaring vocal melodies, Jeff Tuttle’s monstrous, catchy breakdowns, Liam Wilson’s weird rhythms and band visionary Ben Weinman’s ever-perplexing math metal riffs, all as new drummer Billy Rymer mimics the flair Gil Sharone exhibited on Ire Works. Where Black Bubblegum and Milk Lizard were instantly striking and memorable, Option Paralysis challenges listeners to go deeper. Nothing about this record is clear-cut and it demands a real commitment from listeners. The payoff is definitely worth your attention span. With a tail end of sleeper brilliance (I Wouldn’t If You Didn’t, Parasitic Twins), every listen to Option Paralysis will leave fans confused and elated.
****½
TOM HERSEY
1. Written by Fletch, on 17-03-2010 21:33
Don't know how spot on this review is, but it's still great to hear it reviewed locally a bit before its release.
I wouldn't call it that akin to Miss Machine, but one of the tracks, think the second one, sounds a lot like a song off Miss Machine 'We Are The Storm'. Jeff Tuttle does not write anything on the record though, only contributing vocally on a few tracks.
I think a lot of the tracks definitely carry some of the pop sensibilities from Ire Works, whilst the more 'Dillinger'-esque tracks echo Calculating Infinity.
Def. another step forward for the band, but have no idea where they'll go after this! |
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