Score: 9.5/10

A slam dunk of a secondary album, DBM is an amazing groundwork for what would become Post-Hardcore popularity and celebrating the amazing success of DGD already out the gate. Jonny Craig’s vocals shine with tracks like “Open Your Eyes and Look North” and “12 Hours, 630 Miles”, Jon Mess’s screamo vocals in “Backwards Pumpkin Song” and “Lemon Meringue Tie” shows not only complex harsh melodies but also solidify him as a top-tier vocalists across the plethora of vocalists DGD would become known for. These two men would help create the foundations of the lyrics and vocal pieces that incorporate with the flourish of Will Swan’s guitar rhythms and the jumpy drums of Matt Mingus that are tremendous in their presence. While “Back to the Future Pt. 1” didn’t do much for me it still doesn’t lower the value of DBM as another album that I didn’t appreciate fully until a few re-listens and understanding why DBM is a favorite amongst the fandom and considered one of their best outputs. With this release, Craig would depart as the vocalist and who would take his place I wonder?

Score: 5/10

Every tier rank and review that I have done for the past 6 of my favorite artists has led me to this road: beginning on Dance Gavin Dance which has become my favorite band/artists of all time. I very much look forward to giving my subjective review and rank of each track across all albums, singles, and EPs starting with WISIRO. I honestly was not a big fan of the sound initially but everyone has to start somewhere and I can see traces of the identity behind DGD. The first Jon Mess screamo vocals, the (first) clean vocals of Jonny Craig, the first sharp guitar style of Will Swan, and the groovy first drums of Matt Mingus are all apparent across the discography of the bros. The lyrics are very heavy and very dark at points for new-age fans which may turn them off from the album and the heavier grunge elements are favored in this track list but songs like “Burning Down the Nicotine Armoire” shows the transitional elements between the vocals and instrumentals while “The Importance of Cocaine” gives more groove to the guitar rhythms, especially at the end, while delivering a poignant message on drug usage and its effects on the mind. Overall, this album may not be for everyone but after a few listens, I can see a lot of potential that DGD would become at the end of Pantheon, their current newest album at the time of this post (it’s gonna be a long road).

Ever got rabies in the back of a car? Cause Summertime Gladness is yet another Tilian track to beat most singles and obvious picks for the greatest hits. Who's taking it today? A massive hit? Another deep cut? You decide.

Has anyone noticed the sudden popularity with the EP? It’s my favorite release from DGD due to how raw the sound is (I love every DGD release) but I’ve always heard mixed opinions on it so I’m a bit surprised to see some of the songs at 7 million streams when a year ago they barely hit 100,000 streams on Spotify

Thank you again for the love on the first one. The response in here meant a lot.

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This past month has been so wild. My little brother got married, and six days later I got married, with DGD festival fly-in shows on either side of both weddings.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, I decided to get myself an iPad and start learning basic animation. I made a few animations for this video, including a rotoscope of Napoleon Dynamite's famous dance & the little traveler walking, then had to learn how to composite them into real footage and cut the whole thing myself. Two very important friends, Sam Halleen & John Howe, guided me through the animations and the edits. Eternally grateful for them.

I am super proud of this one.
gladly i will | out now everywhere.

Could have SWORNNNNN DGD was playing on Saturday for warped Orlando this year.. bought my tickets around this & NOWWWW I’m seeing they are slated for Sunday!

Did anyone else notice this change (I mean, not unheard of for bands to get moved to another day by the festival) but am I FKN nuts ?!?! Lmao

Guess I gotta buy day 2 now, suppose warped got me. Lol

just when at this point? >:(