Weekly Release Spotlight: La Dispute
Posted on 10/30/2011
La Dispute
Wildlife
No Sleep
Wildlife
No Sleep
La Dispute's 2008 debut "Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair" is often called one of the best post-hardcore releases of the 21st century, frequently compared to hands-down classic releases by Unwound and Fugazi (whose final LP, "The Argument", is the English translation of La Dispute. Coincidence?) The band toured ceaselessly for a few years, opening for the likes of Thursday and Alexisonfire. They quickly gained a fanbase so unwaveringly devoted to the band that the band's Myspace features an entire photo album of tattoos fans have gotten of their lyrics.
La Dispute's newest full-length "Wildlife" is only the second release from the Grand Rapids, Michigan quintet. It essentially acts as an aural diary for frontman Jordan Dreyer, whose lyrics and delivery combine to create the closest you'll hear to slam poetry outside of hip-hop. He eschews conventional techniques such as choruses and A-B-A-B song structure in favor of a fluid delivery which effectively creates remarkably descriptive and linear stories for every song. It's so compelling that listening intently can often lead the listener to almost forget that there's a powerhouse of a band hacking away at their instruments behind him. Seeing La Dispute is an unforgettable experience - the aforementioned mob rush to the front of the stage and Jordan Dreyer approaches the edge and holds the microphone as close to his face as it is to theirs as enraptured fans scream along with him word for word, exponentially increasing the size of the band for the brief time they're all together in the same room.
"Wildlife" represents a young band with no fear going forward with writing and performing music they want to make without regard to anything else happening in music; it's music that is uniquely their own. Their cathartic release is one that has changed the lives of many and is just as powerful this time around. I urge you to spin it regularly, let it get under your skin, and connect with it. One more thing I cannot stress enough - SEE THIS BAND PLAY. They represent the purest form of emotional punk rock music in 2011, and because of this I see none more fit to be Radio K's Weekly Release Spotlight.
Stream: La Dispute - "The Most Beautiful Bitter Fruit"