Review Summary: Dance Gavin Dance's return to form is perhaps their strongest release to-date.
California-based post-hardcore act Dance Gavin Dance's decade-long existence has been chocked loaded with adversity. They've endured nearly a dozen lineup changes with only guitarist Will Swan and drummer Matt Mingus appearing on every release and haven't retained the same lineup on back-to-back releases since their 2006 EP Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean and their 2007 debut full-length Downtown Battle Mountain. However, the band has persevered through all the obstacles thrown at them over the years and haven't allowed the constant member changes detract from their standing as one of the most popular bands in the post-hardcore scene. Their sixth LP Instant Gratification is the first release since Downtown Battle Mountain to feature the same lineup as the album that preceded it and that continuity results in this being the most complete work of Dance Gavin Dance's career thus far.
The presence of the lineup continuity that has long eluded Dance Gavin Dance on Instant Gratification goes a long way in aiding their chemistry as a band. The band has never not sounded like a finely-tuned machine on any of their previous releases, bu going through multiple writing and recording processes with the same group of guys has paid dividends for their tightness as a band. The area where this increased cohesiveness pays off the most is in the rapport between harsh vocalist Jon Mess and clean vocalist Tilian Pearson. On their previous release Acceptance Speech, there was a clear disconnect between the two group's vocalists. The transitions between the duo's vocals sections were rough at best and Pearson seemed to be kind of intimidated to take over the spot of Jonny Craig and subsequently tried way too hard to emulate the vocal patterns of the group's notorious founding clean vocalist. On Instant Gratification, the pair has turned the tide. Pearson has officially stepped out of Craig's shadow by allowing his unique, soulful voice to be heard. Pearson's ability to establish his own identity on this record has patched over any previous deficiencies in the musical relationship between him and Mess. The shifts between Mess' raw screams and Pearson's angelic falsetto singing are constant and abrupt, but every single change feels organic and their ability to feed off each others energy has built a really nice chemistry between them. Mess and Pearson have the perfect contrast in vocal styles that is needed for Dance Gavin Dance's abrasive yet poppy sound to thrive.
While the band's improved cohesiveness plays a crucial role in the success of Instant Gratification, its the work of the group's backbone, Swan and Mingus, that solidifies this record as Dance Gavin Dance's seminal piece of work. Swan and Mingus have been integral to the band's longevity as they've stayed focused and true to their creative vision with a treasure trove of musicians coming and going alongside them. While Mingus is an excellent drummer who doesn't get nearly enough love for his chops behind the kit, Swan has always been the most endearing aspect of this band and that's still very much the case here. As the group's primary songwriter and lead guitarist, Swan is the architect of Dance Gavin Dance's distinctly wide-spanning and bizarre sound. From the use of everything from ultra-clean, pop-inspired melodies ("Awkward", "Something New") to distorted spastic technical riffing that wouldn't sound out of place on a Dillinger Escape Plan album ("Shark Dad", "Lost"), Swan is a thoroughly unpredictable player that is never less than thrilling to listen to. Mingus and Swan are the beating heart of Dance Gavin Dance and the scope of their abilities and unwavering dedication to this band has never been more apparent than it is on Instant Gratification
Instant Gratification is the record Dance Gavin Dance has been striving to make for their entire career. It's still very much rooted in the pop and soul-tinged post-hardcore sound that they've had since their inception, it's just better realized than ever before. The instrumentation is more dynamic, the vocals are crisper, the production is damn near flawless and there are more earworms planted here than on anything they've released in the past. After the mediocrity of Downtown Battle Mountain II and Acceptance Speech, Instant Gratification is a reminder of the juggernaut Dance Gavin Dance can be when they're on the top of their game.
