Finally, the wait is over. After a reunion tour, numerous side projects, a few benefit shows and 12 long years Dispatch is back with their fifth studio album, Circles Around The Sun, and the multi-instrumental trio hasn't missed a beat. Dispatch's trademark mix of rock riffs, reggae beats and jamming rhythms constitutes the new record, every track has a distinctful groovy tone to it and it's simply pristine. In this current boom of music of all styles gaining fanbases far and wide, it was only a matter of time until one of the biggest bands in New England music history started putting out beautiful music once again.

If you've been living in a cave since the mid-90s, Dispatch is made up of Brad "Bradiggan" Coriggan, "Chetro" Chadwick Stokes Urmston and Pete Francis Heimbold. The three amazing musicians met in 1996 while attending Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont and music as we know it hasn't been the same since. Starting out touring all over New England and then extensively around the world after the dawn of the new millenium, the band went on hiatus due to internal tensions between Coriggan, Urmston and Heimbold after a performance on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (currently with the much more talented Craig Ferguson) in 2002. A couple years later in 2004, the band played a "farewell" show titled "The Last Dispatch" at the famous Hatch Shell in Boston and it became the largest concert in independent music history. A crowd of 166,000 made up of people from all over the world attended the magnificent night, sending the band out on top. Last year, Dispatch reunited, did a summer tour of the United States and haven't looked back.

It's always difficult picking my favorite tracks from a fantastic piece of music, but with Dispatch it's like trying to pick my favorite brick of gold from Fort Knox. Anyways here it goes: "Circles Around The Sun" showcases the classic rhythms that only Dispatch can prouduce, making you jump like a pogo stick in a joyus state right when you hear the first strum. "Not Messin'" is a down and dirty badass song with Urmston's unique voice exclaiming how he doesn't have time for the nonsense. "Get Ready Boy" has Dispatch taking a folk direction in their sound, seems like a song you can hear while your in somebody's apartment sitting indian style while an unplugged band is jamming away.  "Josaphine" is a ditty that every New England boy can relate to, falling in love with a fair-skinned girl at a harbor and missing her when she's nowhere to be found. "Never Or Now" is a great anthem for anyone who seizes the moment and never lets go, mind-blowing riffs that will keep you rejoicing and your head banging like there's no tomorrow. You could just read this review and go on your merry way, but you know better than that. Grab a copy of the new album, listen and enjoy a breath of fresh air.

Dispatch will be embarking on a North American tour next month starting at The Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver on September 20th and they'll be ending the expedition on October 12th at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta. New England live music fanatics can check out Dispatch when they play The Agganis Arena on the campus of Boston University on October 6th, a show that no Bostonian with a soul should miss. For fans in The Big Apple, Dispatch will be gracing one of the most legendary stages in the world the night before on October 5th at The Radio City Music Hall. Across the pond in Europe, fans will have to wait till January of next year to see Dispatch electrify their senses so stay tuned to see when they'll be hitting up your favorite music hall. Until Dispatch graces your hometown with their magnificent tunes and good vibes, get yourself a copy of Circles Around The Sun. It's perfect in every way, no matter what the other critics say.

Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you my front runner for the best album of 2012 until proven otherwise, Two Gallants' The Bloom and The Blight. A fantastic record that features 10 explosive tracks, it'll make your head spin and your spine tingle with excitement and fervor. Loud, raw, no holds barred rock n' roll is the best way to describe the 4th album from the folk-punk duo out of San Francisco consisting of childhood friends guitarist and vocalist  Adam Stephens and drummer Tyson Vogel. It's the band's first record off of their new label ATO Records as well and their first release in 5 years.

Produced by John Congleton who has also worked with The Walkmen, Modest Mouse, David Byrne, The Roots, Murder By Death and William Elliott Whitmore as well as his own band, The Paper Chase, The Bloom and The Blight has a distinctive rugged, grizzled feel to it while at the same time smooth and soulful with Stephens' magnificent voice. Another great example of the loudquietloud style influenced by The Pixies, nearly every track has a slow build up to the chorus and then catches you refreshingly off-guard with raucous riffs and badass harmonies that will makes your jaw drop. I'd be very surprised if another album comes out this year, this decade or even this century matching the flatout sheer amplification that the new masterpiece from Two Gallants produces right when you press play.





- Rob Duguay

It's that time again when I pick a select few tracks to highlight the album, so here it is: "My Love Won't Wait" is the lead single off of the new album, starting off the with cryptic lyrics "You can try, but ain't no use, i'll lose it if you cut me loose". A great track about unrequited love but still refusing to let go, exuding epic amounts of fury with each note. "Ride Away" has become an addictive favorite of mine, a dark, dreary track about being on the run after witnessing your brother being executed with thunderous riffs and somber melodies. "Halcyon Days" is all about drowning in your own self-pity because you love someone so hard that it makes you miserable, showcasing the amazing drumming skills that Vogel possesses. "Cradle Pyre" is groovy and powerful, with Stephens  asking the question of "Where will you run when the world is on fire?". "Willie" is about what every small village or town should have, a drunk that causes hell and makes people wonder if they were responsible for his downfall. Since these are only a few of the many songs I absolutely love off of The Bloom and The Blight, don't just sit there and take my word for it. Get up off your sorry ass, grab a copy of the album and listen for your own enjoyment.

Two Gallants will be embarking on a tour of The United States, Canada and Europe on August 22nd at El Cid in Los Angeles and ending the expedition on December 11th at The Nouveau Casino in Paris. For us live music fanastics in New England, Two Gallants will be rocking the stage at Brighton Music Hall in Boston on September 27th, a show that you defintely shouldn't miss. Despite this review by yours truly, The Bloom and The Blight won't be hitting record store shelves and (legal) internet music download websites until September 4th, so you'll have to be a little patient. When that fateful date arises, do yourself a favor and grab the new album from Two Gallants. It's a beautiful piece of music that will make you a lifelong fan within seconds of listening.