Spooky Tuesday
Dissonance
Reviewed by Chad Bonham
With a new lead singer and chief lyricist (not to mention new drummer), you'd expect big changes on Spooky Tuesday's sophomore release, Dissonance. Well, there are differences, just not the obvious ones. Vocally, for instance, there's not much change (the new singer and the one he replaced sound and look very similar). Instead, the band's stylistic direction is where you would find a difference. On its debut, Spooky Tuesday's style was disjointed, ranging from predictable, aggressive modern rock to roots rock. While the band retained some of the latter elements, the bulk of this project is focused toward a more groove-oriented sound. And, for good measure, there are novel appearances by Latin-based influences on songs such as "Agua" and "Cry Me To Sleep." However, the band's strongest suit is its songwriting, with lyrical gems such as "Suicide," "Salvation" (a unique look at the crucifixion), and "The Smoking Song" (a sarcastic jab at habitual vices). The production values of Dissonance could stand to be better. The album's opening cut, "Personal Institution," is a prime example of how a good song ended up sounding mediocre. But, overall, Spooky Tuesday shows marked growth and Dissonance has enough charm to win over a few more unsuspecting ears.