4.5 superb

Adam Knott CONTRIBUTOR | July 22nd 09

Where The Alchemy Index was Thrice saying, "Look, here's four different ways to compartmentalise us," Beggars sees them at their most difficult to pin down. Honing the sound of Vheissu but with softer, more groove-oriented rhythms, they've crafted something which runs together and seems a coherent whole. It leans in certain directions but always stands up straight in the end; the Radiohead influence is clear on Circles, and there are hints of TAI's Earth CD in many of these tracks. The Weight is arguably the best song they've ever written, but Beggars as a whole is beautiful, passionate and just jaw-droppingly good. It's probably an indication of the high standards they set that I believe they're yet to make their masterpiece, but for most bands on the planet, this would be far and away the most impressive release of their career. 15 Bumps | Bump

3.5 great

Kit Brown CONTRIBUTOR | July 21st 09

Thrice completely ditch their past influences of melodic-hardcore on the first two records, their past hints of post-metal on Vheissu, and their experimentation on both Alchemy Indexes. While reading this may seem like Thrice has gone in a completely new direction yet again, don't get too excited. Beggars is essentially the band really tightening their alt-rock sound and centering their attention on Dustin Kensrue's great singing. While this certainly isn't my favorrite Thrice record by any means, it's still got some great songs to add to the band's already stellar discography. Check out "In Exile", "At the Last" and "Beggars" for some of the album's strongest content. 9 Bumps | Bump

2.5 average	AlKal | July 26th 09
Every song sounds the same, and the track lengths are long as well, which is a good thing when there are shifts in the music, but this is just too bland. It's a shame, because I was really looking forward to hearing more experimentation from them. 5 Bumps | Bump

5.0 classic	Nathaniel F. | July 23rd 09
I'm calling it right now: AOTY. Album of the Year. A band at the top of their game. A masterpiece. 5 Bumps | Bump

4.0 excellent

Mark Campbell | July 23rd 09

Thrice continues to surprise with Beggars. The album is definitely a bit more uptempo (in spots) than either Vheissu or The Alchemy Index, but unlike past works, Thrice has learned how to really groove within a song as opposed to letting the structure control the music ("All The World Is Mad", "The Weight"). The band has also continued their unabashed love of Radiohead ("Circles", In Exile") and has almost completely jettisoned their post-hardcore past, with the exception of "Talking Through Glass" (which just may be one of the best songs they've ever done). Let's face it, Thrice will never put out Illusion Of Safety 2. The record does slip a little with some of the slower, quieter numbers as they all sound very similar to one another, and the album lacks the epic production/composition of Vheissu and Alchemy, but this record is far and away the most cohesive work they've done since Vheissu. 5 Bumps | Bump

4.0 excellent	Mootiny | August 1st 09
With this newest addition to their very stellar discography Thrice show how remarkably consistent, and constantly evolving they are. A masterful release. 3 Bumps | Bump

3.0 good

tggnj4t6 | July 22nd 09

At first listen I am felt slightly let down. Thrice is starting to become very generic alt-rock. To me they hit a high point with Vheissu and completely mastered their work with The Alchemy Index. Beggars has no real hooks and nothing really discernible about their sound. While there are some high points the CD as a whole has really given their listeners much. But then again, after the Alchemy Index, who was expecting another masterwork? 3 Bumps | Bump

4.0 excellent	Klekticist | August 4th 09
A grandiose, sprawling epic. With multiple emotional highs and lows, this album will be listened to over and over and over and over again. This is a borderline classic. Every little niche and detail of this album is so meticulously thought out. 2 Bumps | Bump

4.5 superb	okszoneer | August 2nd 09
so 90% of the staff that voted, voted together @ 3.5... not awesome.. 2 Bumps | Bump

4.5 superb	ktstein | July 24th 09
Ok, I cheated and downloaded it...even with the Vagrant watermark, I'm floored. Just when you think you've got these guys pegged as one thing, they go on and evolve on you. Circles is the best song on this album by far. Awesome, awesome layering of sounds, usage of unique chords and great vocals by Dustin. Another classic. The question is, where could they possibly go from here?? 2 Bumps | Bump

4.0 excellent	Scott Smith | July 24th 09
Thrice finally got their "Radiohead" album. Moody, Atmospheric, and raw are a few ways to describe this. Still very much so Thrice, but more Dustin singing. The only complaint I have about this album is it's really too short. 2 Bumps | Bump

3.0 good	XXXpickemgenius | July 24th 09
A couple of good songs here. Most of it just seems to mesh together without any real distinction throughout. This really doesn't live up to Thrice standards(or hype). Kinda boring, and dragged on in more than one place. Thrice fanboys will eat this up without realizing it's really not that great. Sorry guys. 2 Bumps | Bump

4.5 superb

Durr | July 23rd 09

I came. With that said, this album certainly has its own particular ethos, yet it noticeably progresses from Vheissu. The chilly atmosphere that characterized Vheissu is there in the background of some tracks, but there is also a hint of blues that gives the tracks something special. The vocals and the production are outstanding. The songs have a groove to them that brings the rock in a much more accessible way than what the band was doing on their early albums. While some might find the lack of post-hardcore an act of heresy for a band that flourished from that sound, I can embrace Beggars as the result of maturing musicians who are reaching for a sound that has soul. 2 Bumps | Bump

4.0 excellent

Ross Tomlin | September 10th 09

After the phenomenally ambitious if slightly disappointing concept "The Alchemy Index" Thrice are signalling their intentions toward another genre shift, this time transmogrifying into a more mainstream friendly alt-rock act. If you enjoyed "The Alchemy Index", especially the "Earth" EP, then there is a good chance you'll be wholly satisfied with the majority of "Beggars". There is a very natural progression from this EP to "Beggars" with a large influence from Dustin's solo work creeping into the band's sound. However despite treading unfamiliar territory there is something comfortingly familiar in the majority of the material here. "Wood & Wire" could easily have come from either "The Alchemy Index" or Thrice's last 'proper' album "Vheissu" with an ending reminiscent to that of "Red Sky" four years ago. While the album is unsurprisingly consistent, the two outstanding highlights "In Exile" and the eponymous "Beggars" are similar only in that they both manage to slow the albums tempo and harness the roaming guitars, instead focussing intensely on Dustin's much improved vocals. In essence "Beggars" is a stepping stone album and when looked at in this light is a rather remarkable piece of work. 1 Bumps | Bump

4.0 excellent	Adrian Hertzberg | August 15th 09
Someone needs to change the genre listings of Thrice to include Alt-rock, possibly even as the primary genre. Those looking for a post-hardcore record here in the same vein as Illusion of Safety will be dissapointed. Well, probably not dissapointed, but surprised. Pleasantly. This album rocks faces regardless of what you thought of their earlier work. 1 Bumps | Bump

4.5 superb	Ryan Incognito | August 13th 09
This is probably Thrice's best album yet. While still keeping some traces of their melodic hardcore sound, Beggars sees the band almost channeling their inner Radiohead and putting out one heck of an album. Great job guys. 1 Bumps | Bump

4.5 superb	Bryan H. | August 6th 09
For some reason, this album is exactly what I'm looking for in music right now. Something that has passion, certainly, but also something that also revels in setting a mood. Better than the Index for now, we'll see how the songs grow on me. 1 Bumps | Bump

4.0 excellent	Aaron | August 1st 09
Disappointed so far... Where is the experimentation we have all come to know from this band? "Doublespeak" is glaringly boring and mediocre and I have never said that about one of theirs songs. 1 Bumps | Bump

3.0 good	serdar_secme | July 30th 09
it's remined me "radiohead albums" .. especially mixing is awsome..we must learn a lot thing from this album about mixing. 1 Bumps | Bump

5.0 classic

RideTheChina | July 25th 09

After Listening to this CD for about two weeks straight i feel i have to write another review. This CD is exceptional. Thrice have proven to be the masters of getting the exact sound they want replicated on the CD. Now i must say, it seems all of the instruments have been toned down a little on this CD. I mean a few songs Riley will let go on the drums, but for the most part the drumming and guitar are rather modest on this CD. However, this in no wayy makes the CD bad, in fact the "Less is More" principle really shines through on this CD m ore than any other CD i have ever heard. Riley really brings these songs alive, his choice of drumming (whether its technical or modest) compliments every song perfectly. The guitar on this CD is very modest but it just fits into every song perfectly. I think Dustin has really torn through all the encryption in lyrics and is very blatant on what he is saying on this CD. The lyrics are still amazing they just aren't as encrypted on this CD as they were on other albums. His voice once again has improved and i think he really captured his voice on this album the best. This CD is Thrice, no doubt about it. They have really broken through all genre borders and once again have produced an Album that defies classification. This is their best work and will be the hardest to beat, but if Thrice has shown us anything its that they can always out do themselves. 1 Bumps | Bump

3.5 great

Brandon E.L. Magnuson | October 21st 09

At the beginning Beggars was a dissapointment, and I was quite content with this opinuin. The problem was though I based this opinuin after hearing only I few songs, so today I thought I should put this in so I can acually give an acual rating. The first two songs, which I have already heard, passed without any impact, then came Circles and that just had to fuck everything up. With an atmosphere relating to the Air Ep, which was my favorite of the 4, I was afraid that I may have to embarrass myself with a drastic change of opinuin. But with a lack of edge and some tracks coming off as uninspired, this didn't have to happen. There are still some very strong tracks that still show that Thrice can make an impact but although this in an excellent release, with the expectations set with The Alchemy Index and Vheissu this is a slight disappointment. Bump

4.5 superb	Captain Civic | October 13th 09
Where's The Alchemy Index influences? Vheissu? The greatly progressive sounds they've developed over the past few years have been suddenly dropped to the floor in favour of a bare bones, alternative rock-esque style. And yet, it's still damn awesome. Bump

1.5 very poor	alakazam9891 | October 5th 09
It's as if the members of Thrice are trying to make sure that their only fans reside on Sputnikmusic. Another poor effort. Borderline prog and just plain uninteresting, this is Thrice with even less power than before. Bump

5.0 classic

BigTuna | September 29th 09

With Beggars, Thrice reach the epitome of their craft. Refined yet aggressive, the band manages to grasp all aspects of their sound over the years and subtly weave them into every second of Beggars. From the airy atmosphere of Circles to the conviction of Beggars, Thrice's latest album includes every reason why we love them. Beggars envelopes the sound of Thrice into a masterpiece. Oh, and of course, lyrically it is perfect. Bump

4.0 excellent

Sean Rizzo | September 22nd 09

I guess Thrice is all about progression. I didn't think they could do any more of that after The Alchemy Index, but they seemed to expand on that sound plus make it new with Beggars, which disappointed me at first. But after some more listens, I've come to realize that this album is really a whole new Thrice, and it's a sweet, original sound. Give Thrice two points for making an original album and a bonus point for still sounding themselves, because this nigh-impossible task is exactly what they did with Beggars. Bump

4.5 superb	Dan Paulmeno | September 19th 09
This album is some kind of masterpiece, it's the most well thought out thrice album as well as their most laid back and relaxed. I love everything to the pictures in the lyric book to the cracks in dustins voice to the groovy guitars. Bump

3.0 good	Skyler | September 14th 09
A natural, straightforward progression from The Alchemy Index with more focus on strong songwriting and less on experimentation. Pretty boring, to be honest. Bump

3.5 great

fromtheinside | August 28th 09

Thrice finally get invited to drive in the diamond lane, as they cruise on this delectable outtake like never before. With some of the best tracks in their discography (The Weight) on this disc, this is an essential record for any fan of the post-hardcore genre. Thrice prove once and for all that they can probably do no wrong, as Dustin becomes as intimate as ever with the mic. Songs like At the Last can be heard in their full contradictory glory, as the band learn how to balance all of their emotional weight and distinctions perfectly. Soon to be crowned one of the best releases for 2009. Bump

4.0 excellent	Alexander | August 4th 09
All the fanboys on this site are and will overhype the crap out of this. (Including myself). But if you haven't listened to it yet, it should at least behoove you to give this album a shot. It is def. worthy of that. Bump

4.5 superb	sman789 | July 29th 09
Wow....there hasn't been a band that I have followed that has been this consistently good Bump

3.5 great

Matt F. | July 27th 09

Well it's no Vheissu, Thrice's newest outting is earnest and heartfelt. The hardcore moments fans have come to adore have been eradicated, and instead replaced with a softer, more touching side. After the Alchemy Index, it was anyone's guess as to where Thrice would go, but the fact still remains that they have the talent to work within many different genre's. This band has mastered their craft as far as I'm concerned. Bump

5.0 classic	1drummer | July 26th 09
Bands best album to date, Dustin's best performance vocaly and lyrically. Classic! it is a bit too short though. Bump

4.5 superb	gRINN | July 26th 09
Is amazing, not as amazing as Vheissu, but I don't think Thrice could bottle thunder twice and this album is awesome for what it is: A fun rock record. Bump

3.5 great	Sam Felldman | July 24th 09
An great record. No more, no less. Thrice seem to be playing it safe here, but they don't make bad music in any sense. Bump