Wednesday: The Dillinger Escape Plan - Paranoia Shields

     The Dillinger Escape Plan's One of Us is the Killer is going on two years old now, so at glance it might seem like some things ought to be starting to happen in Camp Dillinger right about now -- and maybe they are. But it would also appear that the guys aren't quite done with Killer just yet.

     Last week we had the strange and potentially unsettling video for "Paranoia Shields" unleashed upon us, and whatever you might think of this particular visual treatment of this song, you can't deny its power as a reminder of how great this album is. I've been moderately into Dillinger since their classic Calculating Infinity, but the one-two punch of Option Paralysis and One of Us is the Killer really cemented my affection for what admittedly isn't always the easiest band to get your head around.

     I hesitate to recommend "Paranoia Shields" and One of Us is the Killer as a more "accessible" (the buzzword typically used of newer Dillinger) inroad to the the Dillinger catalogue, because that almost sounds like the newer stuff is somehow dumbed down or something. It's not. Dillinger is still Dillinger, and it's still light years ahead of so much of what's out there, so get with the program already and check 'em out if you don't know them yet.

Strange Changes - Prancer

     Was yesterday's "tech" Tuesday just not tech enough for you? Today's cover will fix that right up... in a manner of speaking.

     Before you get your knickers in a twist, no, today's song isn't a tech death cover or anything. It is, however, a much more... technically ambitious, shall we say, cover of a song by a band that is also generally anything but straight forward. I do hope you like jazz though...

     Tonight you're looking at a pretty wild free-jazz-feeling live cover of The Dillinger Escape Plan's "Prancer" from last year's One of Us is the Killer by a band called Strange Changes. Dillinger's version is out-there enough for some people already, so add in horns and keyboards and then give this group of talented jazz players a little room to move, in the form of extended solo instrumental sections, and you've got a cover that can only be described as controlled chaos.

     Things travel a little far afield before Strange Changes is done, but the song remains pretty recognizably "Prancer" for most of its seven-and-a-half minute running time, a commendable feat. If jazz isn't your thing, you might initially be turned off by this cover, but if Dillinger is your thing, I'm willing to be you've got the mental musical capacity to handle everything Strange Changes throws at you. Either way, I urge you to open your mind and give this one a shot. I think you'll be glad you did.

Song of the Day: The Dillinger Escape Plan - One of Us is the Killer

     I've been rocking the new Dillinger Escape Plan record all day, and I'm sure I'm not the only person who's taken a shine to One of Us is the Killer since its release a couple weeks ago. How about you?

Song of the Day: The Dillinger Escape Plan - When I Lost My Bet

     Getting ready to go to sleep anytime soon? Drifting off to dreamland too easy for you? Need a bit of a challenge, something to keep you up at night questioning your sanity? The Dillinger Escape Plan is here to help.

Song of the Day: The Dillinger Escape Plan - Prancer

     It's already almost the Ides of March (Classics reference, FTW!) so by this stage of the game the Interwebs has likely already made you aware of the fact that masters of mathcore mindfuckery The Dillinger Escape Plan have a new disc ready to unleash on the now-suspecting masses, One of Us is the Killer, out May 14th.