TRAVIS MORRISON, SYSTEM & STATION, THE RAINY STATES (Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) As frontman of Washington DC’s Dismemberment Plan, Travis Morrison emerged as a chronicler of the world at its most sordid and most triumphant, all amidst gloriously catchy post-punk songs. His recent All Y’All isn’t exactly a return to form per se—the rhythmic explorations of his new backing group Hellfighters extend more deeply than those of his previous band (especially on “I’m Not Supposed to Like You (But)” and “Churchgoer”)—and the Morrison of 2008 is both more cynical and more wide-eyed in his lyrics. After working with shifting instrumental configurations, Morrison seems to have found the proper balance to complement these songs. And live, his default mode remains unabashedly, almost sheepishly, charismatic. TOBIAS CARROLL

There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t miss the Dismemberment Plan. While some indie bands merely come off as smart, the D.Plan were intelligent to the point of being intimidating. They always seemed a bit too wise for the game, and when they split after a decade in 2003, I was pretty convinced we’d never hear from any of them again.

So I was wrong. Morrison has been lingering around as a solo artist for a few years now, and while his ‘04 debut, Travistan, was a bit uneven at times, it will forever be known as the record that was sunk dead in the water by a horrifically cruel review. The review did more than just derail Morrison, it was one of the first signs of the gradual shift in the music industry in which the power is stripped from the artist and instead now resides with those online. It’s safe to say that if the old music media—Spin, Rolling Stone, Magnet, etc—had all panned the record together, at the same exact time, the result still wouldn’t have been as devastating.

Morrison’s second solo album—the painfully titled All Y’all— was released with far less controversy, and much like its predecessor, it’s all highs and lows. Morrison comes off as hyperactive and wacky a bit too much, but towards the end of the recording, he seems to find that same D.Plan jittery rhythm once again.

MP3:
Travis Morrison - Around the Way Girl (LL Coool J cover)

Travis Morrison - As We Proceed