Review Summary: To: La Dispute, Address: Grand Rapids, MI
Dear
La Dispute,
I am writing to inform the band of my recent acquisition of your untitled 7”, released in the May of 2008. I had encountered your very unique and diverse brand of post-hardcore quite a few weeks earlier in the form of you’re debut LP “
Somewhere at the Bottom of the River between Vega and Altair”, which I must say I enjoyed immensely; the desperate vocals, amazingly varied guitar work and tight rhythm section left me stunned. After finding such satisfaction in that record, I went in search of more material, and here I am, listening to these two fabulous tracks. I am hoping you will appreciate this letter and the analysis contained within.
First of all, let it be known that “
Only Everything Below” is one of your strongest songs to date. Opening with urgently strummed chords, Jordan Dreyer’s rapid-fire vocals quickly join the mix. A small buildup quickly descends into a crushing breakdown with strong gang shouts and gutsy screams. Adam Vass’s bass then steals the show with a nimble-fingered riff, providing a backbone to which two guitars intertwine two different lines gorgeously, with Dreyer’s playful wording always ever-present. Some of his strongest and most emotional lyrics are presented in this section, like the following:
“He speaks with the speed in the clench of a bear-trap,
Softly rebuilding the castles he'd kept,
Says, "There is grace in a steeple collapsing."
Straightens the sheets on the beds where they'd slept.”
The song ends with a beautiful clean section that provides a nice transition into the second track of this EP. “
Shall Never Lose Its Power” is somewhat cohesive compared to the disjointed and bipolar nature of the song prior. It begins slow and pleasant, yet it doesn’t take long for the distortion to kick in and the screams to break out. The contrast between heavy and soft here is extremely effective and the juxtaposing dynamic is lovely to listen to. There are then continual conversions between clean and distorted passages before the uplifting lead guitar signals the outro, finishing everything in an epic fashion.
I am thoroughly impressed with the huge amount of passion and emotions you fine young men have managed to pour into the 9 minutes of music presented here. There have been comparisons made between your band and
mewithoutYou, another group I hold in high regard, and it pleases me to say that their influence is strong, defined and ultimately positive. After this effort you then confirmed your brilliance with a magnificent full length, but this release should not be overshadowed. It is surely two of the greatest songs in your discography, and I would obviously encourage your fans to gain their possession. I’ll certainly be keeping a watchful eye on you in the future.
Thanks for reading La Dispute.
Yours sincerely,
Thomas Stephenson
