Dance Gavin Dance - Downtown Battle Mountain (Hardcore/Emo)
Disclaimer: Normally, a person like me would probably inform you that there's a good chance you might not enjoy the music you're about to hear. I can't cater to everyone, and while you may like Johnny Cash, Metallica, Slipknot, Miley Cyrus, etc., I probably don't. That being said, I ask you to keep your comments respectful, even if the music I listen to hurts your ears. I'm not going to tell you "Don't post negative thoughts about the band," because one, I feel we can maturely discuss any topic here at the Escapist, and two, you don't see people saying "Don't tell me said game is bad because I liked it." It should be no different with music than it is with games. Onto the review.
A lot of people just don't like Rise Records. The label produces the albums for bands like Devil Wears Prada and Drop Dead, Gorgeous, along with many other post-hardcore/screamo bands that all seem to play the same style. To each their own, but monotonous screaming and plain, heavy guitars are somewhat to be expected when a new band is announced on Rise. This probably didn't help Dance Gavin Dance's popularity, as they were signed to Rise in 2006. Their initial EP went somewhat ignored, and the band was off to a bad start.
But with the release of Downtown Battle Mountain, Dance Gavin Dance got a chance to show listeners that they have their own style and sound. The band had six members: two guitars, a bass, drums, vocalist, and screamer. While everyone is responsible for their unique sound, vocalist Jonny Craig really seems to stand out. His voice is very unique, a bit high-pitched, but he has a pretty good vocal range, and different styles are seen throughout the album.
Below is a short audio clip of the song "And I Told Them I Invented Times New Roman" presenting Craig's vocals. This clip gives an example of his high pitch, and the whole track itself displays his vocals nicely. With this clip, you also get a bit of the instrumental sound, and some guitars there at the end. There's not a whole lot that makes you say, "Wow!", but the tune isn't bad, and throughout the album we get a taste of a lot of exciting, relaxing, or tense melodies that help accentuate and intensify the lyrics.
[audio=http://www.filefreak.com/pfiles/1315/Vocals.mp3]
Vocals
Now, a portion of Dance Gavin Dance's vocals are screaming. They're pulled off by Jonathan Mess, and I feel Mess has a really nice sound. Unlike a lot of the bands signed to Rise, the screaming in Dance Gavin Dance is quite a bit higher, instead of deep, grunt-like screams. The screaming helps put an angry emotion into the songs, and provides a bit more "rock" to the songs than Craig's soft voice. From "The Backwards Pumpkin Song":
[audio=http://www.filefreak.com/pfiles/1316/Screaming.mp3]
Screaming
If I had to give you one reason why I think Dance Gavin Dance's Downtown Battle Mountain is better than the generic slew of Post-Hardcore bands out there today, I'd say it's their way they use the singing and screaming together. In the clip below, from the song "Turn Off the Lights, I'm Watching Back to the Future" they combine the lyrics with the two vocalists to add a sense of storytelling that is just awesome. The song is probably one of the best on the album.
[audio=http://www.filefreak.com/pfiles/1317/Both.mp3]
Both
Basically, Jonathan Mess and Jonny Craig both play a character. Mess and Craig have murdered someone because they were drugged up, and Mess, the screamer, feels no remorse for what they've done. Craig's conscience, however, has exploded, and he feels so much guilt for the horrible thing he's just done. Later in the song, Mess goes to a bank and robs it, and even though Craig had been his best friend, Craig cracks and turns himself and Mess in for the crimes they've committed.
That, simply, is why I love this album so much. The hatred and anger of Mess' character is given through the lyrics and his screaming, while Craig's innocense and remorse is shown through his higher vocals. It's a great combination, and frankly I think more bands should adopt the style.
There's not much else I can do for you. I can say that Downtown Battle Mountain boasts an impressive spin of screaming that's not seen in a lot of other bands. I can tell you I think the guitars are awesome and fit into each song, and I can say that Jonny Craig really helps bring some "Oomph" to the record. But, unfortunately, none of that matters. It's all about what you think of their jams. Maybe you like them? If you do, then great, if not, perhaps it's just not your thing, and that's cool.
