Dispatch – Circles Around The Sun

Staring at the Sun

Nearly a decade ago the threesome of jam band notoriety consisting of Chad Stokes, Pete Francis and Brad Corrigan said goodbye to us and to their band with a final concert in 2004. That was the end of a progressive rock cycle that became the soundtrack to many collage careers. Just when you thought it was all over, twelve years and a few side projects later, the trio are back with their latest release, Circles Around The Sun released on Bomber Records.

Circles Around The Sun maybe be overdue but without a doubt worth the wait. Holding true to their rock-folksy-reggae tone, Circles Around The Sun could seemingly pick up where we last left the band. The title track establishes the reggae rock force to be felt through the remaining ten songs. A familiar rebellious energy that we know and love from the band with exploding guitar and folksy vocals that we’ve yearned to hear from Stokes. “Sign Of The Times” appears to be a dark highlight of the album with a slightly quieter paced tempo and an unnerving feeling that acts more as a showcase for growth within the band than a general uneasiness. Harmonizing vocals on “Josephine” and radical-meets-psychedelic vocals on “We Hold A Gun” round out the album.

Fans will be fervent to get their hands on the album and equally see these guys live. Circles Around The Sun may slightly make you miss the Dispatch of the past but Stokes, Francis and Corrigan won’t need to wait another twelve years for a follow up album, this new chapter is pretty darn amazing.