There are a few bands from the 90s that haven’t maintained their “promise of influence” all that well (I use scare quotes here, because I realize that this concept, a promise of influence, is a load of bullshit. A band’s lasting success is mostly reliant on the bands that “promise influence” immediately after them. Sorry, Television, that’s mostly why you’re important). Liz Phair, Archers of Loaf, and Walt Mink are a few of these bands. But one of the most striking bands whose arsenal is never drawn from is the Dismemberment Plan. Bands inspired by the Dismemberment Plan (which is indicated by crystal clear vocals, noodling, shifts in song structure, and blips. Lotsa blips) are few and far between. The closest thing I could think of is Yeasayer – but that’s more Floyd and the Flaming Lips, than it is Travis Morrison and Co.

The preceding paragraph is just a lead up to say, rather oafishly: “So..uhh…isn’t it cool? This band CAVES totally sounds kind of like the Dismemberment Plan. They uhh…even sing about science and shit. Not many bands do that I guess…yeah.”

CAVES just got to Brooklyn from San Francisco a few months ago. They’ll be releasing an album, A Year of Magic (for beginners) sometime this year, and are releasing an EP, Face the Wall in April (which you can check out here). Stream “Face the Wall” below…it sounds kind of like the Dismemberment Plan. Yeah!

Caves - “Face the Wall”

by Max Sebela