Dinner and a Suit's Light and Lungs is an impressive debut—and not just because several of the band members are only nineteen years old. Though the band is certainly both young and fresh-faced, many of their songs ponder universal issues of self-expression and the travails of interpersonal relationships. Some, like “Who I Am,” even wade off into deeper waters, with the existential artistic question “Am I just a copy of someone else before me?” The band even raises the possibility for religious interpretations of their lyrics with liner-note nods to the man upstairs, without ever veering into the perilously preachy territory of Christian rock.
With comparisons to John Mayer and Coldplay, Dinner and a Suit definitely appeal to an emo feminine audience with their brooding lyrics and softer rock sound, though there's plenty for boys to enjoy in the band's high-energy performances. As for their earlier question about being mere copies, though, it's obvious that the band brings plenty of talent and ingenuity to the table. While there's some standard indie rock stuff happening with Jon Capeci's passionately soaring vocals, giving rise to potential comparisons with Linkin Park (who, incidentally, chose Dinner and a Suit as the opening act for the Projekt Revolution tour date in Philadelphia), the band's rock sound is one of a kind.
Catchy ballads like “You From Me” particularly stand out, despite my own general distaste for down-tempo tunes of the lighter-waving variety. Following up this slower song to end the album on a high note with the upbeat “Square One,” the band clearly understands exactly what an audience wants and needs and never hesitates to give it.
--Laura Roberts [October 13, 2008]
