I think it's only fair, if I'm going to talk about We Own The Night, I'd talk about Instant Gratification too. There are many special records that I've loved before I even found out about Dance Gavin Dance, but this was the first record I fell in love with in a way that made me want to talk about it. Whether it was a sudden interest in musical writing and technicality, or because it was just that impressive, this was the catalyst that eventually became this website.
After experiencing the magnificence of We Own The Night, I went straight for the deep dive, starting with the record it called home. Now having heard much of Dance Gavin Dance, it's pretty clear Instant Gratification marked the start of a new golden age for the band, and the turning point for the Tilian era.
This record tweaked their core sound from the past few records in a way that has been monumental for the band, and paved the way for their future album sounds. A lot of the pop sensibilities, unique dynamics and structural choices that first showed up in this record have continued to provide a strong foundation for the records after, and for me, the records before Instant Gratification and the records inclusive and after feel like two completely different eras of the band.
Standout tracks like We Own The Night and Death Of A Strawberry showcase their more pop-leaning capabilities and their knack for catchy vocal melodies alongside robust screams and post-hardcore instrumentation. Despite that, the album boasts a variety of sounds and styles, making the record a very refreshing experience from start to finish. From the rap-infused Eagles vs. Crows to the deliriously heavy Shark Dad, the range they achieve with this tracklist is impressive.
Throughout the record, they never fail to produce quality bangers. It's chock full of great riffs, stellar drumming, awesome lyrics and hypnotic delivery. Their unique brand of swancore instrumentation stays true to itself but continues to evolve with this record, seeing more concise and focused lead work and a noticeable effort on giving rhythm more presence in the guitarwork. To some small extent, it can be said that they traded in some of the chaos of their older material in exchange for more pop-friendly material, but it really is a minor difference if any.
In classic Dance Gavin Dance fashion, there's a lot of great lyrical gold from Jon Mess, a generous sprinkle of musical gimmicks and an undeniable amount of talent underlying every track. Lines like "get that, grab it, go go claws" speak for themselves, and moments like the outro of On The Run are both super fun and cool. The way they smoothly switch between ruthlessly heavy, unreasonably groovy, monumental and comedic is unmatched. Never once in any of the band's discography did I feel like a transition or a section was jarring or out of place, and this record is no exception.
Instant Gratification may have since been overthrown by Mothership and Jackpot Juicer for best album, but it still holds a special place in my heart alongside the other two. First impressions are always important, and for one of my all-time favourite bands, this record is significant to me for sure.
Rating: 10/10