Disco de Dishwalla: “Dishwalla”

Could this band be more amazing? It's a shame they're so great because they've had a hard time selling records sine 1995's Pet Your Friends even though they've put out better albums since. I'm not sure I like this album more than Opaline, but I've only had the record a few hours! My favourite songs are Collide, Coral Sky and Surrender the Crown.

For those interested, here's the track listing: 40 Stories, Collide, Ease the Moment, Coral Sky, Winter Sun, Creeps in the Stone, Surrender the Crown, Bleeding Out, Life for Sale, Above the Wreckage, Far Away, Collide (Massy Mix).

This is my first experience with Dishwalla, and it was definitely a good one.

I found out about this band because I heard they were sort of like Lifehouse. I guess they kind of are, but they are really quite different. On this album, they're much edgier than Lifehouse ever is - but that's a good thing!

The songs range from acoustic beauties ("Far Away") to harder, classic rock songs ("Ease the Moment"). I must say JR Richards (the lead singer) has one of the most unique voices I've heard in a while. His voice seems remarkably versatile: sometimes he has a really edgy, deep voice that makes you want to scream along with him; but he can also sing touching ballads with a clear, heart-felt voice.

Another thing that struck me about this album is the great guitar work. There are some excellent guitar solos found throughout the CD. That's something that many modern rock bands are missing. It's great to find a band that still incorporates solos into their music!

Highlights of the album include "Collide", "Ease the Moment", "Coral Sky", and "Above the Wreckage". "Collide" is the first song I heard of the album, and I was hooked. The lyrics are great and you can feel the emotion coming off this song.

Dishwalla is a great band. This CD made me want to go buy their other ones too!

I'm a fan of the band and so I bought it retail on the first day it came out so I can listen to it driving back home.

Differences:

1. A lot more guitar riffs

2. More distorted chord progressions

3. The mood. It's darker.

4. Keyboard and instrumentals are more dominant than ever before.

Same:

1. Great voice that only JR can produce

2. Band. All 5 members have returned.

3. Great lyrics

4. Genre of music. However, it's evolved, sometimes almost Incubus like.

But it was so different from Opaline (especially this album because it was different from their other albums too) and their previous albums that I couldn't bring myself to like it too much more than 3 stars.

But after a few listens, you realize it's still the same great Dishwalla, with the electric guitar being more prevalent than ever before. It's darker than you're used to. But whereas Opaline became more of a Jack Johnson album, this album introduces the flexibility of this great band, and in a couple songs you are reintroduced to their earlier forms (Track 11 Far Away, which is almost reminicent of Radiohead, Track 6 Winter Sun).

The integration between Creeps in the Stone and Surrender the Crown merges in effortlessly together with instrumentals mirroring that of Nine Inch Nails or even A Perfect Circle.

I still remember driving home and starting to give this CD a listen on 40 stories. This song met every expectation I had for this CD, which was very high to begin with. This was a good thing and a bad thing. Because I am not as impressed by the rest of the album. I'm not a big fan of Collide. But there are real good honorable mentions, such as Above the Wreckage and Ease the Moment.

But that doesn't mean I like it completely now. I'm doomed to the great expectations I had especially because I loved Opaline so much as well. You will not get tracks like Candleburn or Every Little Thing here. This is less romantic and more real, somewhat tormented yet gratifying. This is the alternative form that's past Counting Blue Cars yet holds on to the very vintage of Dishwalla.

Keep in mind that no band does it right the first time around. If you listen to Green Day, especially, you realize that their punkish grunge style has evolved into much more heavily alternative form of today that so many people love. Likewise, this band has been transforming as well.

This album is a great testimony of even better Dishwalla to come.

You need this cd. It has the songs, the performances, the edge......don't listen to peoples gripes about it not being like their earlier work. They are more polished, but they are also a much matured band, and the songs have an even greater depth than some of their earlier work (using Pet Your Friends as the example here). JR has never sounded better, in my opinion, and the band really lets loose on several of the tracks. My favorite tracks are Winter Sun, 40 Stories, Coral Sky, Ease The Moment and Far Away.

This cd is fantastic from beginning to end and is the PERFECT successor to Opaline. The cd takes some of the best moments from Opaline and combines them with the edge of their ealier work, creating, what should be, the cd of the year.

If you have never had the pleasure of seeing these guys live, you need to add it to your list of things to do in the near future. The live shows needs to be seen to fully appreciate the Dishwalla experience! Buy this cd!!!!

This album IS Dishwalla.

If you listen to the band's first 4 albums (including Live...), combine all of their strengths, and strip away the excess you're left with the sound of Dishwalla. In that sense, the title is entirely appropriate.

No one can deny the genius of Opaline, but this album combines Dishwalla's great songwriting with the intense feeling of their live performances. As always, JR's vocals are superb. Try not to sing along to the chorus of Collide. The subtle backing strings match perfectly with heavy guitars and bass. Pete Mahoney's drums definitely maintain the presence they have on Live.

40 Stories is the quintessential opening song. It's catchy lyrics, upbeat tempo, and driving guitars draw you right into the album. It FEELS like the opening song at a Dishwalla concert.

I've always been a fan of symphony and rock bleding together (Metallica's S&M, U2's All I want is You, Trans-siberian orchestra), but Ease the Moment is far beyond anything I've heard before. Lyricly, it's almost a continuation of Angels or Devils, but much deeper and darker. Simply beautiful.

Coral Sky could be their best single (note, I don't say song) yet. Winter Sun is the most Opaline-esque song on the album, but pushed a degree further, feeling more live. Creeps in the Stone peels away all the production leaving a beautiful, bare introspective.

The next several songs all have their own greatness, but are best regarded as part of the album, not singles. The final track, Far Away, surpasses Drawn Out as a closing tune leaving you wanting to listen to the album many times more.

Blend the beauty of Opaline with the intensity of Live... and you get Dishwalla. It isn't the suprise knockout that Opaline was, but revolutionizing an incredible sound isn't necessary to make a great album. Hopefully, with another solid album to their name, Dishwalla will break out of small-town California into the big time so everyone can enjoy their great music.