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La Dispute
Rob Ortenzi on 6/8/09 @ 2:19 PM
NOW PLAYING: Somewhere At The Bottom Of The River Between Vega And Altair (NO SLEEP; nosleeprecs.com)
THE STORY SO FAR: With their second full-length, Michigan quintet La Dispute have hit their prog-core stride. The grand arrangements and dizzying diversity starkly contrast to the comparatively spartan nature of their 2006 debut, Vancouver. "We've become better musicians, heard and seen music we'd never thought existed and developed as a result," explains vocalist Jordan Dreyer. For their latest effort, the band spread intermittent recording sessions over a nine-month period. This allowed for maximum refinement, though Dreyer admits the process proved "initially a bit nerve-wracking."
WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW 'EM: La Dispute are as much a product of the current genre-defying musical landscape as the proto-screamo of the early '90s. Their songs reflect equal parts the Mars Volta and Moss Icon, bulging with wildly disparate passages and speak-to-shout vocals. Likewise, Dreyer's personal influences span far across musical and literary landscapes, from author Vladimir Nabakov to rapper Aesop Rock (the album title is drawn from an Asian folktale). "Most of the lyrics on the album attempt to tell a story with hope that the person hearing them can make their own conclusions, he says. "So much of the album deals with love and losing it. The overarching sentiment is that there will always be people and feelings there to help you through and give you purpose." -Casey Boland
YOU LIKE? YOU'LL LIKE: AT THE DRIVE-IN / MEWITHOUTYOU / FUGAZI
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