Change is the fourth studio album by American indie rock band The Dismemberment Plan. It was released on October 23 2001 through DeSoto Records.1 The album was recorded in 2001 at Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, Virginia, with producer J. Robbins, and mixed by Chad Clark.1
Genre – The record incorporates elements of indie rock, post‑rock, neo‑psychedelia, post‑punk revival, and math rock.1
Length – 47 minutes 12 seconds.
Label – DeSoto Records.
Producers – Chad Clark and J. Robbins.1
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | “Sentimental Man” | 4:16 |
| 2 | “The Face of the Earth” | 4:46 |
| 3 | “Superpowers” | 4:48 |
| 4 | “Pay for the Piano” | 3:24 |
| 5 | “Come Home” | 5:05 |
| 6 | “Secret Curse” | 2:50 |
| 7 | “Automatic” | 4:16 |
| 8 | “Following Through” | 4:39 |
| 9 | “Time Bomb” | 4:24 |
| 10 | “The Other Side” | 3:45 |
| 11 | “Ellen and Ben” | 5:02 |
| Total length: 47:15 (track times sourced from RateYourMusic and corroborated by album credits).2 |
Production and composition
Frontman Travis Morrison noted that the band chose to work again with J. Robbins because of his “pure enthusiasm for music and the record‑making process.”1 The album’s sound reflects a shift toward more “gothy” and darker textures compared with the band’s earlier work, drawing influence from artists such as Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Radiohead’s Kid A, and D’Angelo’s Voodoo.1 Specific tracks cite external inspirations: “Pay for the Piano” quotes the melodic contour of Sting’s “Fortress Around Your Heart,” while “Come Home” nods to Carole King’s “It’s Too Late.”1
Reception
Change received universal critical acclaim. On Metacritic, the album holds a score of 83/100 based on ten reviews, indicating “universal acclaim.”3 Notable ratings include:
- AllMusic: 4.5/5 stars
- Pitchfork: 8.6/10
- Stylus Magazine: 8.8/10
- Alternative Press: 8/10
- Paste: 9.0/10
Critics praised the album’s more focused songwriting and its blend of experimental structures with accessible melodies. Ryan Schreiber of Pitchfork highlighted the “sentimental sound” and described the record as a “beautiful metamorphosis” of the band’s style.3 Conversely, some reviewers, such as Michael O’Brien of PopMatters, felt the album was less essential than the band’s earlier releases, describing it as “enjoyable but far from essential.”3
Legacy
Change is regarded as a pivotal point in The Dismemberment Plan’s discography, marking a transition toward more expansive and genre‑blending compositions while maintaining the band’s distinctive rhythmic complexity. The album’s critical success helped solidify the group’s reputation within the early‑2000s indie rock scene.
References
- Wikipedia contributors, “Change (The Dismemberment Plan album),” Wikipedia, accessed May 2026.
- RateYourMusic, “Change – The Dismemberment Plan,” track listing, accessed May 2026.
- Metacritic aggregation and individual review scores cited in the Wikipedia article, accessed May 2026.
