Starting off five-track EP, Anticipation, with light guitar strumming, John Dissed draws the listener in. Soon after, his baritone vocals enter. Slightly reminiscent to that punk feel of the early 90s, you feel the longing in Dissed’s haunting vocals on the title track. “Anticipation/It’s what I feel when I think of you/Anticipation/Picks me up when I’m feeling blue/Anticipation/Thinking of all the things we’ll do/Anticipation/Yes it’s true,” he sings. 

After years of collaborations, Dissed began singing and recording his own songs in 2007. Having gained recognition for co-writing “Mr. Madness” by the Los Angeles Music Awards in 2006, Dissed decided to try his hand at penning his own work. Anticipation is his fourth of five solo EPs released, the first of which is available for sale on CD Baby. While Dissed’s guitar talent is undeniable on the five-track EP, his vocals fall flat on tracks like “Red Cheer” and “Bulletproof.” 

Not all lost, however as Dissed offers his honest and at times, sarcastic take, on his release. On “Up” he tells listeners, “Don’t be afraid to die.” All the while, the song offers solid acoustic and electric interlude mid-song. 

“Bulletproof” is a moving number with lyrics that hit the listener in the face. “Taking all our money it’s the American way/ . . . Thought you were here to save us/ … The only other America is the one in your head.” Dissed’s lyrics demonstrate a politically sarcastic and bitter tone that comes across with his slow guitar strumming and deep, dark vocals. 

The fourth release for him this year, Dissed is sure to be making progress as a relatively new solo artist. While his guitar accompaniment is stellar, his vocals take more time to grow on the listener. Falling flat on many of the tracks, a bit more variation throughout his singing style could have worked wonders on Anticipation.
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