Music Review: Beggars by Thrice

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Dr_Feelgood38

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Edited By Dr_Feelgood38

Now, this isn't one of those great deep reviews that Bruce does ( like this one here!), I'm just trying to get as many people as possible to buy this fantastic band's album when it comes to stores.
 
Thrice have made nothing but amazing music ever since they first broke out onto the music scene and their newest album is definitely no exception. Their musical style experienced some major changes since their beginnings culminating in the previous heavily experimental four part album, The Alchemy Index (check it out, too). Beggars is still somewhat experimental (albeit more fine tuned) which shows that the band is ever evolving and making the kind of music that they want to make, but it is also an amalgam of all the best parts of their previous albums making it more accessible.

Every song on the album is expertly crafted by each member of the band with thoughtful lyrics, amazing vocal deliverance, and unending musical talent. The songs range from the alternative-rock and jazz fusion “Doublespeak” to the haunting, eerie tracks like “Circles” and “Wood and Wire” which also capture sadness in a most profound way.

“A dead man walking down the hall,
To meet a mess of wood and wire.
They lead me where men fear to tread—
But towards the thing I most desire.”  
 
- Wood and Wire 


 
 
 
 
 (There's a watermark in this and in the next video :( Bear with me, the songs are worth it and these guys are the only people who uploaded them. Buy the album to get the songs in all their magnificent, un-watermarked glory :D)


While the slow songs are somber and touching, the faster songs on the album really hit hard. Two great examples would be the opening track, “All the World Is Mad” (which you might have downloaded for Guitar Hero: World Tour) and, later in the album, “At the Last” which has one of my favorite outros ever. "All the World Is Mad" has a great frenetic sound with a chorus that will quickly get stuck in your head.
 

 

This album is also Thrice at their greatest musically. Every song flows effortlessly and elegantly even in their more hardcore tracks. It might be worth noting, though, that, while this album is magnificent, it doesn't come close to toppling Thrice's masterpiece: Vheissu (which you should also check out). The album is available now digitally but will be physically released (with 5 bonus tracks!) on September 15. Go get it!

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Dr_Feelgood38

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#1  Edited By Dr_Feelgood38

Now, this isn't one of those great deep reviews that Bruce does ( like this one here!), I'm just trying to get as many people as possible to buy this fantastic band's album when it comes to stores.
 
Thrice have made nothing but amazing music ever since they first broke out onto the music scene and their newest album is definitely no exception. Their musical style experienced some major changes since their beginnings culminating in the previous heavily experimental four part album, The Alchemy Index (check it out, too). Beggars is still somewhat experimental (albeit more fine tuned) which shows that the band is ever evolving and making the kind of music that they want to make, but it is also an amalgam of all the best parts of their previous albums making it more accessible.

Every song on the album is expertly crafted by each member of the band with thoughtful lyrics, amazing vocal deliverance, and unending musical talent. The songs range from the alternative-rock and jazz fusion “Doublespeak” to the haunting, eerie tracks like “Circles” and “Wood and Wire” which also capture sadness in a most profound way.

“A dead man walking down the hall,
To meet a mess of wood and wire.
They lead me where men fear to tread—
But towards the thing I most desire.”  
 
- Wood and Wire 


 
 
 
 
 (There's a watermark in this and in the next video :( Bear with me, the songs are worth it and these guys are the only people who uploaded them. Buy the album to get the songs in all their magnificent, un-watermarked glory :D)


While the slow songs are somber and touching, the faster songs on the album really hit hard. Two great examples would be the opening track, “All the World Is Mad” (which you might have downloaded for Guitar Hero: World Tour) and, later in the album, “At the Last” which has one of my favorite outros ever. "All the World Is Mad" has a great frenetic sound with a chorus that will quickly get stuck in your head.
 

 

This album is also Thrice at their greatest musically. Every song flows effortlessly and elegantly even in their more hardcore tracks. It might be worth noting, though, that, while this album is magnificent, it doesn't come close to toppling Thrice's masterpiece: Vheissu (which you should also check out). The album is available now digitally but will be physically released (with 5 bonus tracks!) on September 15. Go get it!

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Bruce

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#2  Edited By Bruce

I have disowned Punk for nearly a year now, but I still prefer this to that Soulsavers album. Ugh.

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#3  Edited By jakob187

They lost me after Vheissu.  I dig a few songs from that album, like "Image of the Invisible", "The Earth Will Shake", "Hold Fast Hope", and "Atlantic"...and I also liked "Firebreather" from Alchemy, but I look at it like this:  I kept Artist in the Ambulance in my CD player...and I'm not EVEN fucking kidding...for over a year.  I listened to no single other CD FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR than that album.  THAT is how good that album was.  When they decided to make SUCH a drastic change and abandon all the fans they had before, then there is a certain level of disrespect there that cannot be ignored.  We helped pull them into the spotlight, and they shat in our faces.

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#4  Edited By Dr_Feelgood38
@jakob187 said:

" They lost me after Vheissu.  I dig a few songs from that album, like "Image of the Invisible", "The Earth Will Shake", "Hold Fast Hope", and "Atlantic"...and I also liked "Firebreather" from Alchemy, but I look at it like this:  I kept Artist in the Ambulance in my CD player...and I'm not EVEN fucking kidding...for over a year.  I listened to no single other CD FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR than that album.  THAT is how good that album was.  When they decided to make SUCH a drastic change and abandon all the fans they had before, then there is a certain level of disrespect there that cannot be ignored.  We helped pull them into the spotlight, and they shat in our faces. "

I completely understand. I absolutely loved TAITA and I still listen to it often. Even before that, though, Thrice has been in a constant state of evolution. They started out more punk than anything, then they moved to post-hardcore and alternative, and then came the jump to the experimental phase. I'm sure it alienated plenty of people but, the way I see it, they weren't making the music for us, they were making it for themselves (not really in a selfish way though). Maynard of Tool said something that makes a lot of sense when considering this : "if I can't heal from my art, then how can you heal?" But I do know where you're coming from, I have plenty of friends who feel the same way.
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Bruce

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#5  Edited By Bruce
@Dr_Feelgood38: 
 
Off-topic, but why is this not in Rock Band?
 
 
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#6  Edited By dancingphlower

My god. I need this album. After I get Alchemy Index, first, though.

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Dr_Feelgood38

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#7  Edited By Dr_Feelgood38
@Bruce: Probably something to do with Pokemon being licensed by Nintendo. Still, it would be pretty hilarious to play that and it sounds like it would work out pretty well!