The Wrap Up presents Dance Gavin Dance's Acceptance Speech Album Review
There are few things that worry fans more than their favorite band going through a lineup change. Sometimes, bands simply make the necessary replacement and carry on like nothing has changed. More often than not, however, the bands in question lose motivation and, above all, focus. Then, there’s the rare group whose creative genius and unwavering passion utilize a lineup change to do something magnificent. Dance Gavin Dance is the poster boy for the latter. Without going off on a tangent about the member switch-ups that have plagued their band from their very outset, Dance Gavin Dance’s latest loss of Jonny Craig was, in every sense of the word, beneficial, and they could not have chosen a better replacement than Tides of Man veteran Tilian Pearson. The band made it very apparent from the beginning of the writing process that the loss of their infamous former vocalist would not be a hindrance and, all initial doubt cast aside, they succeeded in spades. To quote the title track, guitarist-by-day and rapper-by-night Will Swan says it best: this isn’t trying to be Downtown Battle Mountain, and it’s better off because of it; Acceptance Speech is Dance Gavin Dance’s best release to date.
Let’s just start off by saying what everyone’s already been saying: Tilian Pearson is an absolute monster. He brings the all too familiar falsetto-riddled wails that the band has always embraced, with just enough unique tone to set each and every song apart from each other. If Tides of Man didn't convince you that Tilian Pearson is one of the most talented clean vocalists in the industry today, Acceptance Speech and his hopefully long lived career with Dance Gavin Dance definitely will.
Complimenting Tilian Pearson beautifully is the always in-your-face Jon Mess. His parts in the album, from screams to yells, shine brighter than ever. Keeping with the same tone from Downtown Battle Mountain 2, he cranks the intensity up to eleven, with admirably writing material to back him up here this time around. Jon and Tilian throw verses and choruses back at each other with a chemistry that could fool anyone into thinking these guys have been jamming together since junior high.
And that’s a big thing with Acceptance Speech. The songs, they just work. While their previous effort with Jonny Craig, as we had once reported on, suffered from flow problems and sometimes just ridiculous musical change ups, none of that is to be found here. It’s clear that the whole band poured their heart and soul into each and every one of these tracks, not just the two front men. Will Swan is as versatile and erratic at ever, giving each song an almost fevered backdrop. These are songs that want to be heard, and aren't about to slow down for you to soak it all in. It’s an attack on the senses in the best kind of way.
To break the album down into two tracks that, in my eyes, take the fore front in proving just what Acceptance Speech is all about, look no further than The Robot With Human Hair Pt. 4 and Demo Team. The former, the first single released from the piece, proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Tilian Pearson and Jon Mess belong in this band together. In a marketing sense, releasing this song first was absolutely golden. It more effectively put a stop to all the rumors and doubts surrounding Tilian’s inception into the group than any amount of interviews or press releases ever could. The latter of the two songs only reaffirms this fact, with an introduction that places right near the very top of my favorite parts in a song. Matt Mingus (one of the only two members, along with Swan, to have stuck with the band from formation until now) is, in a word, explosive on the drums in this piece. While many will admire Mess’ and Pearsons’ talent in this song, Swan and Mingus really make it a song to repeat over and over again by showing their mastery of the genre in the intro.
To Wrap It Up, every member of Dance Gavin Dance just click in Acceptance Speech. The lyrical writings are a massive improvement from previous efforts, Mess is still being crazy, Swan even more so, Tilian Pearson delivers beyond a shadow of a doubt, and the rest of it all kind of just falls into place. Acceptance Speech is without a doubt one of the best releases this year, and arguably of all time. Congratulations, guys, you really did “make this golden.”
Why? For proving that a phoenix of a band can rise from the ashes of a bevy of issues, and just get better and better.
What fell flat? Well, if we have to choose something, I suppose more we could’ve used more songs? Is that even a complaint?
What should I listen to? The Robot With Human Hair Pt. 4 and Demo Team, specifically the opening.
So, should I get it? Absolutely.
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