Dismemberment Plan
Don't forget the face
'Isaac Asimov once said, "Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition in between that's troublesome."
The members of the Dismemberment Plan intend to prove him wrong.
As the Plan heads across the country on their last tour, after making the decision to break up in 2002, they are finding a release from pressure. Everything is going smoothly, and if it isn't, there has been no mention otherwise.
"I think an element of creativity and focus that wasn't there before is back now," began lead singer Travis Morrison. "We were in a bit of a holding pattern, which is not why anyone joins a band. It's been great to get the creative juices flowing again."
The expectations have been washed away. From the way Morrison speaks, on this tour, the Dismemberment Plan is no longer a band but a collaboration of creative and amiable minds.
"We are not obsessed with a grand final statement, but as a band we reached a cogent decision to part ways," said Morrison.
From beyond the grave, the Plan already has intentions to make their voices heard. In September, DeSoto Records will be releasing "A People's History of the Dismemberment Plan." This record will consist of sound files of previously released Plan songs. It is not a straight-up best-of compilation, though. These mp3 files have been downloaded from the Internet and remixed by both established musicians and fans interested in the idea of remixing songs. The Plan is an apparition, the fans the curious mediums, and the CD is the Ouija board.
The concept of posting files and having people interpret their songs started as a joke to the band. Once the files started pouring back in, though, Morrison admitted that the band was thoroughly blown away by how good some of the songs were. The covers were done in ways that they never could have anticipated and it reassured the band that the art of song covers was still alive.
"The history of covers has really taken a beating in the rock era. Once upon a time you didn't get mocked for singing other people's songs. There were interpretive artists and they were very creative. Then something happened and those people started getting viewed as idiots. It's really melancholy because it takes away some of the magic of putting a spin on pre-established works. Most of the world's most interesting art was created like that."
This is not the only plan in the work either. Morrison refuses to become stagnant. In addition to "A People's History," he is working on a solo album, which is being produced by Death Cab for Cutie guitar guru Chris Walla. Walla was originally slated to produce the fifth Dismemberment Plan record, when it was still in the works. The solo album will also feature a few songs by Morrison that would've otherwise been Dismemberment Plan songs.
For a band that broke up nearly a year ago, they sure are being productive. You see, the Plan refuses to accept death as peaceful or the transition as troublesome. They intend on making both just as pleasant and active as life.