Weekly Nostalgia: The Dismemberment Plan
 

1999 looked liked one of the worst years for pop music - ever. The tweens (before they were deemed that by Disney marketers years later) ruled the radio dial, and one after another, the boy bands and jailbaited Tiger Beat pin-ups of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera (and some ten other individually wrapped Kraft slices) took over what was coined "pop music" at the time. In 1999, two other albums should have dominated pop - one by the Olivia Tremor Control and one by The Dismemberment Plan. While the former's album is still a favorite lush, poppy acid trip I spin constantly every spring and summer, the latter was jagged, cruel and self-deprecating. It wasn't hip-hop in the vein of WHY? (possibly an RIYL though), but Emergency and I shifted so many times in its delivery that it is one of the best anti-pop albums of the '90s. When I received the record my senior year of high school, I didn't fully understand it. I can admit that. (Years later I would covet a forever love with Change my sophomore year of college - the album's jazzy and unhinged follow-up.) Then again, pop was evil at that age in my life. I was just beginning to scratch the idea that pop could be something savant with bands such as The Format and Days Away entering my musical sphere. In the past few years though, I've really grown to love the electronic sweep and neurotic tongue of Emergency and I. It's a dance record wrapped in the mindset of someone digging their way out of the worst situations in the best and healthiest of ways. With the re-issue of the album on vinyl through Barsuk this month, it's been on constant spin as it's reminding me that pop doesn't haven't to be a bitter taste, and when life has you down, sometimes you have to make the best of it and accept it for what it is.

very glad to see this here. One of the best bands of the 90s. Emergency & I is one of my top 10 albums of all time.

I actually remember where I was the first time I listened to that album. I was reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower (which also came out in 1999). Great stuff.

Aren't they going to be on Jimmy fallon tonight?

<3

Ice Of Boston is one of my faviorite songs ever

yse

The most condescending, pretentious article I've ever read.

did they do those reunions shows yet? did anyone go, or are going to go?

I Need That Vinyl!

if they come around boston I am definitely going to go.

They are playing there 1/28/11 but it has been sold out for awhile.


they are january-march. Only like 10 US shows total though and a couple Japan shows.

poo

GREAT ALBUM. I still listen to this on a regular basis.

Change is every bit as good as Emergency & I.

agreed. i may even love it more.

I've had my ticket for the Philly show since Oct. A week from today.

I love Emergency and I. Very unique. What Do You Want Me to Say? is my favorite by them.

Change > Emergency & I > the rest of their discography

I'm only a fan of about half of their songs, but I could play 'Superpowers' all day every day. I'll have to give both albums another run through and see if I catch on to more of their stuff this time around.

Gyroscope is such a great song.

Excellent write up

D-Plan are still one of my favorite bands and Emergency & I is fucking timeless. I've probably put the City on every mixtape I've made for a girl

I'm going to the 1/29 date in NYC. Most excited I've ever been for a show.

Wasn't there a d-plan weekly nostalgia awhile ago?

blah blah blah, sometimes the truth hurts. Olivia Tremor Control is the shit, and so is Circulatory System.

What makes you say that? This was a very solid write-up imo.

Good work Adam.

Nope. Here they all are: http://www.absolutepunk.net/tags/weekly%20nostalgia/

Great band. Even better album.

Ah. I was thinking of Q and Not U. Either way, both great bands.

I love this article, this band, and this album. And OTC too. I'm insanely stoked that I get to see them in Seattle in March (totally worth driving for 10 or 12 hours)

Great band that people need to check out.

you haven't read enough articles... or you're a boy band fan

Yeah, my friend's band is playing the one here in Philly. The band's name is Trophy Wife.

The most baseless, unnecessary comment I've ever read.

I think you may be misremembering and overstating the choke-hold teen pop had in 1999. As far as airplay went the highest ranking singles on the year end chart that year for the pop princesses were Christina at #14 and Britney at #20.

Just glancing at the Top 20 singles in terms of airplay, it was really a year for accessible pop rock with Goo Goo Dolls coming in at #2, Smash Mouth at #7, Eagle-Eye Chery at #9, Lenny Kravitz at #17, Sugar Ray coming in twice at #4 & #19.

i just got tickets for the chicago date! so excited!