The New England trio Dispatch are back with their second full-length album, Bang Bang, a sharp collection of ten songs that is pleasing on all ends of the musical spectrum, from instruments to vocals to songwriting. Rarely does the record fall into a pattern, and instead Dispatch rotate their sound, from Guster-esque mellowness to the quick style of Sublime. And sometimes they make the transition within the same song. "Bats in the Belfry" is a perfect example of this musical mix, with the trombones and a Sublime-like tempo during the chorus, and a more mellow speed orchestrated perfectly by lead singer Brad Corrigan for the rest of the song. Conversely, the album's next track, "The General," performs the opposite by reserving the mellowness for the chorus and hitting the fast tempo right from the song's onset. The standout song on the album is, in fact, one of the simpler tracks. It's absent the percussion and other ska-influenced sounds that are abundant on the rest of the album. This by no means implies that these sounds don't work perfectly on the record, because they do, but "Two Coins" is special because it's just an acoustic guitar and vocals, in addition to pretty powerful lyrics. The original and ear-pleasing "Two Coins" marks a transition of sorts for the album, as the final three tracks are closer to rock and pop songs than ska songs. "Whirlwind" is far more musically diverse than the stripped-down "Two Coins." At just under five minutes, it's the record's longest track, and well worth the listening time. The album then concludes on a strong note with "Out Loud," which returns to the acoustic guitar in the lead and relies on Corrigan's wonderful voice, creating a song that certainly will be heard by the audience at any of Dispatch's live shows. Dispatch have identified themselves as a mainstay in the music world because of their diverse sound and willingness to experiment. Bang Bang has only allowed them to grow, and they should continue to do so in future efforts. ~ Shawn Nicholls
Audio Remasterer: Seth Foster.
Recording information: Archer Studios, Burlington, VT (05/1996-07/1997); Lakewest Recording, West Greenwich, RI (05/1996-07/1997); Middlebury College (05/1996-07/1997).
Dispatch: Pete Heimbold, Chad Urmston (vocals, guitar); Brad Corrigan (vocals, drums, percussion).
amazing when i first heard i just thought it was the best i never really had heard of them before but its amazing Submitted by Kyler (Mecosta, MI, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Amazing An amazing album by an amazing band.
Best Dispatch album in my opinion. Submitted by Alex (Chicago, IL) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
bang bang best dispatch album, in my opinion. Submitted by lksdbfl (massachusetts) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
great band I first heard the song 'The General' and i didn't know who sang it at first. I searched the net and found it was this group. This is some of the best music i've heard!!! All their songs are good! I could'nt find this groups music in NZ anywhere! Buy this C.D!!! Submitted by Robbo (Auck, New Zealand) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Awesome! My friend first introduced me to Dispatch about a year ago. Being a punk/hardcore fan, I didn't like them at first. But, with more exposure to them, I have to come to love this band. This CD is by far their best. The mix of reggae, rock, pop, and funk creates a plethora of sounds and rhythms that will keep you listening to this CD for a long time. Definitely recommended. Submitted by Kris (Menomonee Falls, WI) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
bang bang
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