It has been a remarkably great season for new CDs. October (Rocktober?) has seen the release of new discs from three of my very favorite bands, and they’ve all met my high expectations. First came Death Cab for Cutie’s The Photo Album, which is better than their excellent We Have the Facts And We’re Voting Yes. Then came Sloan’s Pretty Together, which is better than their excellent Between the Bridges. And Tuesday brought the Dismemberment Plan’s Change, which is better than their excellent Emergency & I. I usually hold back on blanket recommendations, because one man’s meat is another man’s poison, but I think any right-thinking individual would find much to enjoy in any of these fine releases. (The D-Plan disc, in particular, is currently blowing my mind: who else pairs couplets like “A sunny Sunday watching John McLaughlan / And having sex again and again”?)
As a result, I am hereby giving them all the crabwalk.com Seal of Approval. Fame and fortune will no doubt now follow them.