“The Other Side” – The Dismemberment Plan
(Words/music: The Dismemberment Plan, available on Change, DeSoto 2001)

I saw the Dismemberment Plan once before they broke up; they played for close to two hours before we had to leave so my friend could get up early the next day.  The live show only confirmed the sense of adventure I heard in their music.  As the band plowed through a series of fast paced, rhythmically complex songs, it felt like a sonic high wire act.  Rather than play it safe, the band pushed the more frantic songs to the edge, giving the illusion that the whole thing could come crashing down.  In reality, the band remained in control the entire night, whether building up one of their mid-tempo songs or letting loose on the fast ones. 

That night, the band felt close to perfection, and while their music relies on the flawless execution of complex arrangements, many of Travis Morrison’s lyrics focus on imperfections.  “The Other Side,” for instance, presents a series of circumstances that mire our lives – fights based on misunderstandings, weeks that take too long, and a general sense of feeling clueless and without direction.  Perhaps it’s not as exciting as their music – emotional honesty isn’t known for raising adrenaline – but it’s adventurous in its own right.  Morrison catalogs his vulnerabilities realistically, without downplaying or distorting the facts, and he does this as a way to achieve a personal breakthrough – in this case, to reach the “other side.”  Perhaps Morrison feels spurred on by the frenetic drumming behind him, or perhaps the quick pace reflects the urgency of his situation, but he’s trying to make progress through an honest self-assessment.  It’s not as glamorous as a high wire routine, but looking inward often feels like looking a long way down.

More on The Dismemberment Plan: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm