Brandtson - Dial In Sounds (2002)

After a rocking debut and a more downtrodden sophomore outing, Brandtson's third disc (not counting 2000's Trying to Figure Each Other Out EP) shows the Cleveland group firmly in emo mode, yet managing to combine both of their former discs' moods into a single coherent idea that works more often than it doesn't. The band has never sounded tighter, and the crunchy, catchy songcraft of disc-opener "Mark It a Zero" and "Some Kind of Jet Pilot" offset the more pensive prose of "Command Q, Command Z" and "Little Rounder" nicely. Dial in Sounds is only lacking a truly killer song from making some mainstream noise. But the foursome is closer than it's ever been, and it's getting better every step they take.~ Review by Brian O'Neill