The Dismemberment Plan is Terrified has ADHD, and it’s a good thing. Most songs on this album last less than 3 minutes. Sudden tempo changes, hyperactive guitar playing and frantic vocals are the norm here. The album simply refuses to be constrained by one style, refuses to let go of your attention and refuses to be lethargic. Take the song “Bra,” for example. One moment, Travis Morrison talks about sailing down the Amazon while only accompanied by a bass guitar and drum. The next moment, the tempo speeds up, guitar shredding occurs and Morrison is suddenly screaming and singing in falsetto.
Travis Morrison hyperactivity definitely helps enhance the already fun lyrics. As I mentioned earlier, in a span of one song, he screams, he sings, and he does spoken word. He does this spiel on “Do The Standing Still,” about “a brand-new step everybody isn’t moving to,” an anti-dance song. “Academy Award” mocks the titular award, with Morrison singing “And the Academy Award for ridiculous over-acting goes to you /So get on up there and give us a speech,” while adding deep inhales between each word. Want to hear excellent word enunciation? Listen to “Tonight We Mean It,” where words flow out of Morrison’s mouth so quickly and smoothly, it’s like he’s rapping.
This weirdness can get a little tedious, though. The tempo shifts, irregular time signatures, guitar feedback and uncontrolled screaming starts losing its appeal after being used song after song. There are not many earnest and deep tracks on here, which may disappoint listeners who enjoyed the deep, earnest songs that appear throughout the subsequent (and even better) Emergency & I. But being repetitively weird is far more preferable than being repetitively bland. And while the appeal starts to wear off, you’ll still never be bored listening to TDPIT.
Plus, the album is not all wildness. “This Is The Life” shows the D-Plan be a little more mellow, though Travis Morrison does yell “Tell them sons of bitches” to remind you that they still are a little crazy. “Ice of Boston” is another mellow song, about being lonely on New Years Eve. The 12 minute long “Respect Is Due” is the only song where the D-Plan sound completely sedated, a jarring change in style after the frenetic pace of earlier tracks. These lower-key tracks help make this a well-rounded album, show that not only can TDPIT rattle you, it can also comfort you.
Grade: 9/10
Outside The Aggregator 
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