La Dispute
Panorama
Release Date: Mar 22, 2019
Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Post-Hardcore
Record label: Epitaph
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Album Review: Panorama by La Dispute
Excellent, Based on 4 Critics
Based on rating 4/5
It's funny to think that a scene once written off as a juvenile fad has ended up giving us some of the best guitar records of the modern era, but here we are. When the light-heartedly self-described 'wave' bands were first making a real dent outside of their own bubble of post-hardcore at the start of the decade (Touche Amore on ‘Parting The Sea…’, Pianos Become The Teeth on ‘The Lack Long After’, and La Dispute on ‘Wildlife’) there were a lot of noses turned up at the sheer sincerity of it all. Since then, Touche have released 'Stage Four' and Pianos 'Keep You' two records roundly applauded for their leaps in maturity.
Based on rating 8/10
There's a moment in 'Fulton Street I', the lead track on La Dispute's new record Panorama, where Jordan Dreyer wonders: "If you needed me to be anything, could I even be half of what you need?" This self-reflection is a welcome return to the autobiographical leanings of their now seminal debut album; Somewhere in the Sea Between Vega and Altair. While many of their contemporaries have edged their way towards the mainstream, La Dispute have kept the visceral poetic punch they always had. Dreyer's lyrics have always been the focus of the Michigan quintet's post-hardcore, whether they were dealing in concept or reality.
Based on rating 7.6/10
There is no middle ground between diehard fans of La Dispute and people who decide after five seconds it sounds like Fugazi doing books on tape. Over the past decade, La Dispute's peers in the New Wave of Post-Hardcore (or just "The Wave") have increasingly leaned into their underlying populist aspects--Touche Amore emerged as populist firebrands, the early screamo of Pianos Become the Teeth has burnished into silvery mope-rock, mewithoutYou's folky mysticism has veered uncannily close to R. E.
Opinion: Excellent
La Dispute are one of the few bands from The Wave that really haven't changed much about their style. Sure, they've evolved and aren't plugging the spastic, youthful exuberance kind of shouting and angst into their music anymore, but the spine of old is still there. They pay homage to their roots on all their albums, even while slightly shifting and recalibrating, but ultimately they're quite similar to what they were back in the day.
'Panorama'
is available now