The new album is out and here are the first round of reviews.
4 out of 5 - The feat sounds almost ridiculous, but it works, amazingly it works. (AlbumProject)
Despite its flaws, the collection highlights the band's diverse talents to make for an interesting album that is sure to leave fans eager for the next installments. (UDReview)
Fire and Water have exhibited incredibly musical and artistic evolution- proving the band can indeed write ambitious material, while remaining immediate and effective. (SoundTheSirens)
The Alchemy Index: Volumes I & II: Fire & Water is without a doubt the band's best work since 2002's fan favorite The Illusion of Safety, a fact made all the more miraculous by how DIY the album was made. Thrice push their boundaries without overshooting their capabilities, and it's resulted in an impressive, fluid and accomplished effort that leaves behind all the disastrous potential of self-indulgence. (Punknews.org)
B- (AVClub)
What did you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments
Stream the entire Fire and Water EPs on Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/thrice
I've only heard fire so far and it sounds like a pre-production demo at best. I'm very dissapointed so far. They clearly aren't capable of producing an album themselves yet. track 3 is literally unlistenable.
ReplyDeleteThey definitely needed someone there telling them when their ideas were working and weren't.
It also needs remixed very badly.
Bernard,
ReplyDeleteYou are an idiot.
Bernard,
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you. I really loved all of Thrice's previous work. Even tho Vheissu was hard to swallow at first I can't denie its creativity and boldness.
The Alchemy index is recycled Vheissu just will less effort. The fire CD lacks in many ways the lyrics are not thought provoking
and the music is just plain boring. Not one song stands out as good. The water CD is breathy and sounds alot more inspired than the Fire CD. Digital Sea is an example of what happens when you create a concept album and are force to write lyrice after playing around with some electronica on your computer. These songs are a mess, they are weak and not good. This album is not powerful and the lyrics are literally inspired by element.
Fire does not always have to be intence and water does not always have to be soft and breathy.
They got dropped from there lable because they are blinded by their own artistry.
They hated being called emo and now we can just call them progressive rock and the only difference is they suck as a prog rock band and were amazing at what they use to do. I can only hope they go back to just sitting down and making music that can blow people away.
To the above two comments,
ReplyDeleteFirstly, if you want an actual review of how the album is,technically and sonically,put together see Nick Greer's commentary at http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=13824.
He does a far better job than I would do, a very engaging technical review of the albums. Much better than making an off-hand, uneducated comment about pre-production tapes. I am not an expert; but there is nothing about either of these CD's that sounds "pre-production".
Moving on, I think this is the most inspired work Thrice has ever done. Firebreather, The Messenger, and The Flame Deluge are lyrically stunning. The Water CD is just as good, particular standouts are The Whaler and Kings Upon the Main. There are no poorly written songs; even when evoking simplicity Kensrue never writes poorly.
I find it amusingly ironic that the above comment critiques someone else's writing while displaying a notable lack of ability himself. To put it in your own words, sir, your review is "weak and not good".
Thrice has evolved, they won't be going back to their old style. Adjust, or stop listening, but don't lessen what they've achieved because you have difficulty appreciating it.
Anyone who is comparing a classical composer to a washed up emo/hardcore band turned prog rock is on glue. I can post a review on the album too.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/16700078/review/16720498/the_alchemy_index_vols_i_and_ii_fire_and_water
Sorry if my writing is not up to your standards. To save argument it truly is weak and not very good.
Weather or not you think that I need classes on writing does not change the message of my last post. The Alchemy Index sucks!
Anonymous you come off as someone who try's to make it seem like you know what you are talking about and I know for a fact that unless you have some sort of qualification in music then you have no basis or argument to review an album, your words are merely an opinion an uneducated opinion at that.
ReplyDeleteFirstly. Thrice have accomplished more in their music careers than you have in your whole entire life, do you have a successful band that gets to tour places and be respected by it's listeners?
Secondly. Thrice were not dropped from their record label. If you could be bothered to research your information you'd know, Thrice left Island Records because of creative differences. Island wanted another EMO sounding CD like The Artist In The Ambulance and Thrice being the genuine guys they are do not create music for genres but rather themselves and people who can appreciate great music. So they left and joined a smaller label that doesn't have so much creative restraints and control Vagrant Records.
Thirdly. As for the quality of this album I have found it to be flawless in the aspect of sounds and the mixing is absolutely perfect. How many bands do you hear of that create their album in a home recording studio and a band member (in this case.. Teppei) engineers the whole thing without any outside help and it turns out like this, I ask you to name one with proof.
Finally. For the record you probably wouldn't know the first thing about audio engineering unless you studied it.
Oh and ps. Your spelling just doesn't need adjusting your grammar needs adjusting as well. Oh and your researching skills.
dwayne you're an idiot. why would you compare thrice's success to that of a person making an opinion on an album. Get off your high horse dipshit. I love thrice and their music. The lyrics are great,but thats not why i listen to their music. Its a combination of kensrue's voice, teppei's guitar riffs and various other things that make them successful and likeable. It creates a great musical mood. You change the mood and it no longer works. Granted, something new might work, but in this case it did not. Dont take this as a thrice bashing because i'm a thrice fan; take it as a fan's personal opinion/review. nothing more. For you to get offended of someone's comments is immature and stupid. If anyone should be upset it should be thrice for letting us down. And no, i'm not going to put up with a shitty album just because they contribute to charities. Vheissu was the first let down, this 2nd one is killing me so i hope the next one will help redeem them. Thats how much i like 'em. i still give them a chance. a true fan.
ReplyDeletej-bone I really don't know how someone can make statements like "If anyone should be upset it should be thrice for letting us down" and yet still call themselves a true fan.
ReplyDeleteThrice in-case you didn't know don't make music for people like you who think Thrice should release another album like "The Illusion Of Safety" or "The Artist In The Ambulance". Thrice don't believe in making the same album twice, they have said so themselves it's boring.
So what I suggest is you go listen to another band like AFI or Simple Plan who never seem to change. Thrice have the ability to play many different styles and yet still manage to pull it off.
I admit I'm a hardcore Thrice fan myself I own every album/EP/Single and Compilation they've put out including Vinyls. And not once have I not given their music a chance including Vheissu which I was slightly disappointed at first but then I gave it time and learnt to appreciate it and in time I loved it.
Basically you've made a fool out of yourself. You should know Thrice are going to continue to make music for themselves and that they are not going to go back to their old ways of "The Artist In The Ambulance" they've said so themselves they don't know what's next for them album wise.
It's pretty obvious that they are going to continue on with their experimental ways. A real Thrice fan would accept the fact they are not the band they use to be back in early 2000 so get over it.
Dwayne, I was a huge Thrice fan as well. I loved everything up untill Vheissu. It seem like the band made Vheissu and Alchemy Index to prove they are not just another emo/hardcore band. It seems that they are trying to show the world that thay can make all different types of music.
ReplyDeleteThe sad part is that I like Kensrue's solo CD 1000 times better than the alchemy index. It's good! so people have to stop making assumptions about the styles of music we are all interested in. I love lots of different types of music from folk to hardcore.
Thrice produced some really amazing CD's Illusions and The Artist are just really damn amazing. if I had to compare another amazing CD vs. what thrice is trying to do now. I would say "radiohead" "the bends" was amazing!!! but the more I listen to the alchemy index the more I see how bad it really is. It was rushed. The concept album was to much for the band to fulfill. By creating the Alchemy Index they forced their creativity in a box and it resulted in 12 bad songs. For example, digital sea has catchy music but I can’t get behind the lyrics. “my voice goes to ones and zeros” and your talking about my grammar… and some of the lyrics I like but are quickly killed by the music. Track 6 for example where I don’t even know what Kensrue is singing because the microphone effect is annoying as hell.
But it is what it is… I agree Thice has done more than I will do in a lifetime but I’m just one of the little guys, you know… a fan.
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Anybody who thinks that The Illusion of Safety and The Artist in the Ambulance are superior to The Alchemy Index and Vheissu obviously has no brain for music, and no concept of musicianship.
ReplyDeleteI am a musician (a drummer by trade), and I have spent a lot of time studying music. Thrice's last two albums are far superior to their older LPs. There is more dynamic range (vocally and musically), more musicianship (most notably in the drums) and more passion behind each individual song as well as the record as a whole.
Dustin's lyrics have progressed in an amazing way throughout the years, and he writes some of the most beautiful and eleoquent phrases I've ever read.
If you can honestly sit there and believe that Thrice should make another Illusion of Safety, then I have one thing to say to you - Grow Up. Mature.
""Shield your eyes, keep runnin' to the rhythm of the rifle repeating
ReplyDeleteI'm paralyzed, but I gotta keep movin' if I wanna keep breathing""
Old Thrice = Awesome!
""I am drowning in a digital sea
I am slipping beneath the sound
Here my voice goes to ones and zeros
I'm slipping beneath the sound""
New Thrice = Ghey!
I have to say that I love Alchemy Index 1,2,3 and 4. From what I've heard of it I don't like early Thrice, but I am by no means saying that people can't enjoy it, it's just not my style. I am just getting sick of people of both sides of the fence attacking other people just because they don't have the same tastes. Although I am getting sick of reviews I have seen that say that they are bad because there are no memorable songs that stand out. I like I like each element when listened to in it's entirety and even more when they are listened to together and I have to agree that no song stands out. I have no problem with people not liking a CD because of it, or because of the lack of memorable guitar riffs, I just don't like people labeling CDs bad because of it. All reviews are just subjective opinions and therefor, unless there is some incorrect information, valid.
ReplyDeleteCant stand the new albums, don't like the repetitiveness of Vhiessu either... I listen to everything from Bob Dylan and the Weakerthans to Iron Maiden... and it's funny that a lot of older listeners have been saying the same thing about Thrice. Must be for a reason...
ReplyDeleteFirst off Thrice has always and will always be a great band. Like whatever you want but understand that as far as musicianship they have only got better. Learn about time signatures, key changes, different tunings, meolodies, harmonies and then give it another listen. Oh and Thrice produce and record their own records to sound the way they want it to. Its not made for all your little n00be radio ears.
ReplyDeleteIf you think the quality of the production, and/or the mixing in this album(s) is bad or mediocre, you are one or more of the following; deaf, musically inexperienced, untalented, or you are just completely missing the point. The distorted static-y sound of The Flame Deluge, or the raw, seemingly hollow sound of the Earth album are made on purpose to suit the mood related to the element from which each album is inspired. When you grow up and can accomplish an art work of this magnitude, come back and say something intelligent.
ReplyDelete