Review Summary: The sound of a band who have conquered the island and are dipping their feet in the ocean but still too hesitant to set sail.
When we last heard from TTNG, the Oxford (er,
"Blompton") math-rockers had downsized, new vocalist/bassist Hank Tremain joining the Collis brothers for
13.0.0.0.0, the band’s first album as a trio. Focusing more than ever before on snappy, poppy hooks that balanced the Collis’ intricate tappy guitar licks and restless drumming,
13.0.0.0.0 was the band’s most accessible release to date, but that accessibility didn’t come without some valid criticism. Despite all its instant catchiness, there remained an undeniable lack of diversity between songs, any experimentation coming in the form of unnecessary filler passages that only served to highlight how slim an affair the album actually was. Still, for a first effort with a new lineup, one that even the title hinted would be a fresh start where the three members could get acclimated to each other, it was difficult to view
13.0.0.0.0 as anything but a temporary success with the promise of something better lying just over the horizon.
If
Disappointment Island had been a complete flop, the jokes would’ve written themselves, so it’s a pleasure to report that although some of the record is standard TTNG fare and not much more, it’s hardly a one-trick pony. “Destroy The Tabernacle!” is perhaps the band’s least formulaic effort of the Tremain era yet, an uncharacteristically bass-driven romp where drummer Chris Collis’ equally uncharacteristic less-is-more approach pays huge dividends and Tremain’s vocal performance echoes a yelpy early 80s Bono in all the best ways. Elsewhere, on “Consoling Ghosts” and “There’s No ‘I’ In Time,” slower, moodier grooves steal the spotlight, and “Whatever, Whenever” employs a genuine post-rock crescendo with guitarist Tim Collis’ first use of heavy distortion since the band’s self-titled record nearly a decade ago. All these songs thrive due to their willingness to deviate from the band’s norm, and even more predictable TTNG material like the upbeat, snappy “A Chase of Sorts” and breezy opener “Coconut Crab” prove that when they stick to their guns, the band’s got enough chops and prowess to impress.
Disappointment Island does have a few issues though, chiefly among them what happens when those chops are left unchecked; “In Praise of Idleness,” “Bliss Quest,” and “Empty Palms” all showcase the band meandering with no distinguishable or memorable groove, riff, or melody. When they’re playing, they’re serviceable, but these aimless (and worse, lengthy) cuts show that TTNG haven’t completely learned how to iron out or outright scrap their patchiest ideas. The other major issue is Tremain’s general vocal tone. This isn’t so much a complaint with the singer himself, but the absence of
13.0.0.0.0’s polished and clear vocal style which suited his deliveries perfectly;
Island’s rougher, minimally-edited takes put his crackly falsetto and uneven jumpy melodies in center stage where they sometimes come off as grating, putting a damper on (but far from completely ruining) tracks like “Coconut Crab” and “Sponkulus Nodge.”
The only truly disappointing thing about
Disappointment Island is that for every successful step forward into the water, there’s still a part of TTNG too hesitant to venture off land. If there were ever a band who could get away with pumping out song after similar song of twinkly complexity, it might be them; not straying far from modern math rock’s basics isn’t really a detriment when you’ve consistently proven your place as one of the genre’s most respectable, talented, and personable artists. But simultaneously packed with too many duds to wholeheartedly praise
and too many hits to write off,
Disappointment Island is yet another frustratingly acceptable mixed bag from a band who have come so close several times to knocking it out of the park. At this point, TTNG’s virtuosity is clear and their music is just shy of brilliant; the only thing keeping them on the island (and holding them back) is themselves.
