Album Rating: 4.0

it's my second-fav Thrice

Album Rating: 4.0

I always listen to the Alchemy Index as all 4 discs, but yeah, second-fave for sure.

Album Rating: 3.7

Both EPs are great, but part of the Alchemy Index's problem was that it came across as too disparate; with the exception of Water, every EP played around with various takes on its element without striking a cohesive balance throughout.

thrice is a band

Album Rating: 4.0

this is a music website



"every EP played around with various takes on its element without striking a cohesive balance throughout."

kinda curious for you to elaborate on that, Johnny. You mean from EP to EP or within EPs? If it's the latter, the only one I feel I could criticize for that is Air

Album Rating: 3.0

I would disagree with that statement, I think each EP does a particularly good job of unifying its respective theme while still offering some diversity.

hi sowing hyd

Album Rating: 3.0

sup torts

Album Rating: 4.5

If they picked the top 2-3 songs of each of the EPs and created one album, that probably would've been the best Thrice album ever. Even though that's the exact opposite of what Thrice was going for with having just one album. Loved the creativity though.

Album Rating: 4.0

The Dear Hunter did that



the only problem was that not all of the songs they chose was the best

cause dear hunter r dummies

Album Rating: 3.0

The problem with picking the best from a thematic collection of EPs is obvious and it still annoys me that more people have heard that version of The Color Spectrum than the actual full set



I'm so glad Thrice didn't make that error

Album Rating: 4.0

agreed with Sowing regarding The Alchemy Index's balance of variety and cohesion

And this may be a stretch, but I also like how some lyrical threads in the final track on each EP connect to the start of the next; the mention of "deluge" and "flood" in The Flame Deluge, while referring to a wave of fire, are obviously water-related terms, while in Kings Upon The Main, the final lines refer to gales and the raising of a sail, obviously powered by air. Silver Wings uses less overt references to Earth but includes mentions of death, blessings, and curses, which all fit the lyrical tone of Earth well, and if you circle things around, it's cool to contrast Child of Dust's quiet longing for rest with Firebreather's rebuttal of "ARE YOU FREE?"

It helps the musical differences feel less jarring.

"thrice is my favorite band" actual quote from sowing, Billie Joe Armstrong, every member of for today, the bassist of vektor, Joe biden, every member of yes, and the drummer of thrice

Album Rating: 3.5

I just can't picture myself ever preferring Beggars over Vheissu.

Album Rating: 4.0

[2]

can't imagine liking another thrice song other than image of the invisible

Album Rating: 3.7

"kinda curious for you to elaborate on that, Johnny. You mean from EP to EP or within EPs? If it's the latter, the only one I feel I could criticize for that is Air"



From EP to EP wasn't really an issue because that disparity was part of the project's purpose (and because the links between the final track of each EP created a fantastic sense of overall unity). I mean within EPs more; Air suffers from it the most, but I feel that Earth struggles to get under the skin of the element beyond embracing country, folk and blues elements (i.e. they came across as styles employed the band TO try to an grasp the element not BECAUSE they had it nailed as a sound). Fire and Air are more cases of every track grasping the atmosphere convincingly but some working much more effectively than others, leading to a slightly inconsistent listen. They EPs all work, but end up as highlights outings to my ears (aside from Water, which is fantastically consistent).



That said, I'm nitpicking given that I really like every track in the Index (apart from As the Crow Flies, The Earth Isn't Humming and The Lion and the Wolf).



"If they picked the top 2-3 songs of each of the EPs and created one album, that probably would've been the best Thrice album ever"



Not sure about best Thrice album ever, but I think there's something in this. Post-Artist in the Ambulance Thrice is strongest at its most dynamic and diverse, and there's easily enough strong material in the Index to be refined into an album as varied and cohesive as Vheissu or Beggars. That said, it would undermine the point of the project.

Album Rating: 3.7

"can't imagine liking another thrice song other than image of the invisible"



Surely an Image fan must enjoy In Exile, All That's Left and Talking Through Glass?

Album Rating: 3.5

I don't consider that to be even close to their best songs