"Change" may be filled with earnest, emotional songs, but it would be doing this album a great disservice to call it simply an "emo" or even "indie" album. The Dismemberment Plan's jazz-meets-rock-meets-pop style defies such easy classification. Instead the band stakes out their own niche with a combination of complex rhythms, endlessly fascinating melodies, and above all, rock-solid musicianship. In a sense this could even be considered math rock, owing mainly to the dazzling dexterity of the rhythm section. Joe Easley, especially, is a phenomenal drummer; in some songs he's basically playing extended solos. And the production makes perfect use of space, enabling the listener to pick up every nuance of the intricate arrangements. Supplying the feeling is lead singer Travis Morrison; although he does overdo it with the falsetto a bit, there's no denying that he puts a lot of emotion into his vocals. More than anything, though, what sets "Change" above the crowd is a diverse batch of memorable songs. The hard-rocking "Pay For The Piano" is doubtless one of the catchiest songs of the past few years, and "Following Through" isn't far behind. "Come Home" and the acoustic "Automatic" slow things down for a quieter and more reflective feel, while "Superpowers" just dispenses with the guitars and overwhelms you with layers of shimmering keyboards. "Time Bomb" and the stunning "Other Side" feature some absolutely sick rhythm work, proving conclusively that these guys aren't just another indie band. The good-natured "Ellen And Ben" even demonstrates a sense of humor, closing out the album with a witty tale of a hot-and-cold relationship. "Change" may be my first Dismemberment Plan album, but I can definitely see where all the praise for this band comes from. Now to get "Emergency And I!"
