Dither,
moe.'s first studio release since 1998's
Tin Cans and Car Tires, found
moe. exploring similar territory to
Wilco's Summerteeth album, with a lesser degree of success. The songs themselves are curiously good, though
moe.'s arrangements are perhaps too rooted in endless playing on the road, where the band spends most of its time. As such, extra instruments and production effects -- pianos, filter sweeps, DJs, synthesizers, and more -- often sound unfortunately tacked on. In places, though -- such as the incredibly catchy
Paul Simon-influenced "New York City" or the introduction to the bittersweet "Faker" -- the group manages to transcend its limitations. While the sound is cluttered, it also finds two original voices emerging from the group: bassist Rob Derhak and, to a slightly lesser extent, guitarist
Al Schnier. ~ Jesse Jarnow