Category Archives: Thrice

Colour Revolt: And Then There Were Two.

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Despite the fact that we called Plunder, Beg, and Curse one of the top ten albums of 2008 because it proved that “beards and southern rock are just barely getting started with their comebacks,” the album had dismal sales (we were among multiple entities who wrote high praises of the album), and they lost their label, bassist, and drummer.

Woah. Some blow.

Founding members Jesse Coppenbarger and Sean Kirkpatrick eventually found themselves down to two, and tasked themselves with recording some new songs (they created 40 demos) and finding some new mates.

They did just that, and the wonderful product of such trials is documented in 2010’s album The Cradle. Though the lyrics throughout the album address the broken communication in a relationship between a man and a woman, we also get to experience the heartache that a band breaking up causes and the ambiguity that follows.

Check out one of the stronger tracks from this album, “Mona Lisa”. Musically, lyrically, it’s got to rumble you and make you take notice.


Download Colour Revolt – Mona Lisa

Thrice drummer Riley Breckenridge claims that this album is a lock for his top ten of 2010. The Breeders literally chose them to tour with because of an album listen. St Louis’ Riverfront Times claims that Colour Revolt is THE exception to the idea that most bands today would never survive in the 80’s pre-internet band era.

So what is going on that all the cool people with great taste love these albums, love these shows, and don’t buy the records?

You’ve got to buy the records, guys! We even give you linkety links when we tell you about the music! How do we keep music coming? How do we support the acts we love without buying their music?

Here it is. C’mon now, sweetness.

House of 9’s Where I Belong

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I bought this album last week and meant to review it on Friday. Then I sprained two fingers and shit got real. I’m just kidding. It didn’t get real. I just like that phrase. But I did mangle my fingers pretty bad and typing just wasn’t in the cards.

I heard of this band, Everest, because an old pal from childhood actually did the album art. Yeah dude! Give some props to the wildly attractive and popular Desi Moore. Thankya.

This isn’t Everest’s first album or rodeo, but really, let’s pretend it is. They recorded Ghost Notes in 2007 when they had barely been a band for two weeks. They jumped on tour (with acts as notable as Neil Young, huzzah, and My Morning Jacket, of course) and got all set to record their second album. But a little something called SXSW happened, and before you know it, they sign with Warner Brothers instead. Mental note, prepare for an e-mail from the Web Sheriff du-du-doooo…

So May 11, On Approach was released and even though the band likes to say they don’t actually sound like other bands, well. Look. We’ve all accepted it by now. We are a product of our influences; we just are. I realize I am probably the only one who hears Exile in Track One, “Let Go” -and yes I mean Exile as in 1978, long hair and synthesizers – but then I doubt many other people grew up with the fully stocked juke box that I did. I hear “I Wanna Kiss You All Over” every time I hear this track:


Download Everest – Let Go

After that, I really don’t mean to make any other comparisons and I just want to get in to this chill album. But by the time I get to Track 8, “House of 9’s”, I am hearing Thrice – or at least Dustin Kensrue – through and through. Another listen through the album proves that if you like Thrice, you will really love Everest. They’re on a heavy-duty tour right now. I hope their van is holding up – go see them and buy some merch! Help them out! This is a solid, solid sound.

The band asks that you support your local record store, so why don’t you go ahead and do so. Browse around for Exile while you’re there too. Compare and appreciate the funky guitar sounds.

If you don’t have a local record store, try buying online here.

And storms will surely come

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There’s many who’ll tell you they’ll give you their love,
But when they say “give” they mean “take.”
They’ll hang ‘round just like vultures till push comes to shove.
They’ll take flight when the earth starts to shake.

Guitarist/lyricist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue has yet again provided a deep and resounding message in Thrice’s sixth studio album, Beggars. In fact, this time around, they tweeted the entire recording process. Watch this video and check out what qualified as their “studio” for this album.

Someone may say that they’ll always be true,
Then slip out the door ‘fore the dawn.
But I won’t leave you hanging on.
Another may stay till they find someone new,
Then before you know they’ll be gone.
But I won’t leave you hanging on;
No, I won’t be that someone.

Yes, this entire album is completely an observation of the human condition, and it takes several spins before it really hits you over the head. This. Is. A. Masterful. Album. In the video above, Dustin touches on the fact that they’ve done a hybrid between recording live and recording piece by piece. The end result absolutely glows with all the energy of a live performance.

And come what may, I won’t abandon you or leave you behind
Because love is a loyalty sworn, not a burning for a moment.
And come what may, I will be standing right here by your side;
I won’t run away, though the storm’s getting worse and there’s no end in sight.

Dustin’s voice carries a pure velocity. He means it. It just doesn’t get much better than this. Check out “The Weight”:

Download Thrice – The Weight

And what of the name of the album? I really enjoy the message he conveys through many of the tracks asking just who you think is in charge? Just what lies do you tell yourself so you won’t have to do the right thing? And hey… You never hurt anyone. This means you’ve led a good life, right?

“I think we are at most times deluded in thinking that we are totally responsible for our circumstances, but in the end almost everything is beyond our control to a high degree and we can’t even be sure we will wake up tomorrow. Whether you believe that God created you for a purpose, or that the world is governed by blind chance, everything in life is a gift at its core; we are beggars all.”

You must buy this album. It really hits the mark that Thrice has been trying to clobber all this time. I could write another entire post on the tracks “In Exile” and on “Doublespeak.” Nevermind the fact that the title track wraps the record up beautifully.

Best of 2008: I feel a million miles away

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2007 was a damn good year for new music. It was propelled forward by some sort of momentous occasion in 2006 that seemed to save all of the genres. 2008 blew by quickly, though, and the albums put out were still burning the energy radiating from the year before. I don’t know that many albums could argue they were radiating their own light. I have actually had a hell of a time putting together a Top Ten.

A few of my favorites put out new albums this year, but those didn’t change the scene, they didn’t change music, and they didn’t top what they’d done previously… So, despite how many spins they got on my iPod, they still didn’t make my list.

3OH!3 Want was one of the best, and most consequential, albums of the year. We claimed it resurrected Hip Hop. These boys are so damn adorable they resurrected something.

The Matches A Band in Hope was a) better than their last album which was already damn good, b) better than anything else in their genre all year long, and 3) enough to make a giant hunk of thugness get jiggy while driving his SUV. That’s a good album.

Colour Revolt’s Plunder, Beg, and Curse, The Bravery’s The Sun and the Moon Complete, and Murder By Death’s Red of Tooth and Claw were also some of the best albums of the year. These albums contributed to rock music in their own ways, whether it was proving that rock can translate to techno in an organic way and not just in the popular way club dj’s are doing it… proving that beards and southern rock are just barely getting started with their comebacks… or proving that three guitars and a drumset are not the only formula for a breathtaking live show. 2008 is better off for having these albums and these bands around.


Fasciination by The Faint was lauded by inAllcaps as “amazing” and “mind-blowing”. Thrice once again melted minds and limbs with the next installment in
The Alchemy Index, titled III and IV Air and Earth. And Death Cab for Cutie quietly and stealthily syncopated rhyme, rhythm, and reason with Narrow Stairs.

The Offspring, always one of my favorites, surpassed any of their previous albums combined in the ability to deliver that guitar that just makes my soul sing. Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace showed that they improve year by year and even though Splinter from 2003 was hard, smooth, and fuckyeah (yes it’s an adjective), RaF,RaG was light years better. THANK YOU OFFSPRING. I fucking love you.

But the best album of 2008 was Nine Inch Nail’s The Slip. How could it not be?

[Nine Inch Nails – 1,000,000]

Everything Trent Reznor puts out is impeccable. That is a lot to live up to. And there have been eight albums at my last count. He hasn’t slipped once. He has never failed to take on new challenges or rise beyond them. The Slip was even made available for digital download, free of charge.

“Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years — this one’s on me.”

Thank YOU, Trent. It. Kicks. Ass.

The official list from inALLcaps:

1. Nine Inch Nails: The Slip
2. 3OH!3: Want
3. Death Cab for Cutie: Narrow Stairs
4. Thrice: The Alchemy Index Vols III and IV Air and Earth
5. The Offspring: Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
6. Colour Revolt: Plunder, Beg and Curse
7. The Matches: A Band in Hope
8. Murder by Death: Red of Tooth and Claw
9. The Faint: Fasciination
10.The Bravery: The Sun and Moon Complete