A four-piece outfit brandishing erratic musical directions, punk-rock energy and experimental songwriting may not sound like major-label material, but sure enough, based upon the strength of ...Is Terrified, the Dismemberment Plan were scooped up by biggie Interscope Records. The group's sophomore outing is not as neatly reigned in as its predecessor !, but pleasures abound: "That's When the Party Started," with a cool synth-pop sheen, sounds like an aggro Talking Heads, while the monologue that drives "The Ice of Boston" demonstrates singer Travis Morrison's lyrical chops. ~ Brian Raftery

Option (7-8/97, p.102) - "...TDP sidesteps easy categorization though the most obvious thing to do would be to dump 'em in the guitar rock heap. TERRIFIED is wonderfully schizo; no two tunes sound alike..."