Album Rating: 2.0

That insane outro is the only part I can really say that I love. I really wish they had extended that with some fucking nuts oscillation going on with that drum and bass groove.

Album Rating: 3.5

A Branch In The River feels really half-assed vocally and it's the song on here where the production suffers the most. Even if Hold Up A Light is obnoxiously simple, it at least is what it is - ABITR feels like it's reaching for something it doesn't have the commitment to becoming, which makes it a worse song imo

Album Rating: 2.5

"ABITR feels like it's reaching for something it doesn't have the commitment to becoming, which makes it a worse song imo"

Agreed. The outro is really the only truly good part of that song.

Album Rating: 4.0

I'd much prefer a band that tries something and fails over a band that doesn't try.

Album Rating: 3.0

but why put failed experiments on the album? i love a branch in the river by the way, especially the changing chorus

Album Rating: 4.0

I'm sure they don't think they're failed ideas lol

Album Rating: 3.0

that's an explanation, i just can't imagine they didn't notice the disparity in quality in that album

Album Rating: 2.0

I think they know. Hearing the band discuss the album in interviews really makes me feel like they know.

Album Rating: 3.0

yeah i would encourage everyone to watch that video i reference in the review. it is almost hard to watch in places. it's not like it's an awkward interviewer or something. it is just dustin and teppei sitting there trying and failing to think of what makes this record interesting.

Album Rating: 4.0

Lol maybe I won't watch it

I like this record and apparently ignorance is bliss

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

first there was Blood on the Sand.... then Blood on Blood.... next, get ready for..... Sand on Sand

Album Rating: 2.0

Not to mention The Grey and The Dark being next to each other.

Album Rating: 3.0

Off the first listen, this feels like a few separate EP's with someone pressing the shuffle button randomly to form an album structure, which is also true of the lyrics as there doesn't seem to be a consistent theme running through the album. There isn't the cohesiveness that you might expect from the band that assembled Vheissu, TAI and Beggars which I think all flow perfectly well together as albums.



There's definitely more low-lights (and arguably more radio rock friendly) in comparison to their earlier work, but there's some really interesting sonic experimentation going on that feels like an extension of each of three above, especially Beggars with that utterly sexy bass groove in places that I've been yearning for more of since Doublespeak, especially on Blood on Blood.



I always thought TBEITN was the stepping stone post hiatus album, but this feels very much more of a "Branch In The River" (excuse the pun). Do they go more Shinedown-y with the singles like The Grey, do they go more Dear Hunter-y with the experimental stuff like Beyond The Pines (which could easily be on Green on TCS) or do they continue to just do whatever they want, which to be fair, is what they've always done.



As an album, it doesn't always work and I doubt we'll be looking back at any of these songs in 10 years time on Palms and call them "Thrice classics". But give me an eclectic mess that pulls in different directions rather than something safe every day of the week.

Album Rating: 4.0

Regarding the interview that gives a track-by-track commentary, I didn't think that there was anything awkward or revealing of their lack of interest at all. The guys chose to tackle the commentary from the angle of giving the origin story of the tracks, that is, who came up with what musical idea first and how it evolved. The pauses are down to them trying to remember who did what. If there is any fault here, it is that they entered the interview very unprepared.



And while the guys are hardly foaming at the mouth about each song, this came across as just being naturally chill. It wasn't the most interesting track-by-track commentary in the world, but it was hardly some big insight into a lack of passion Thrice have for this album.

Album Rating: 4.0

As for the album itself, I like a lot of the lyrical themes, though they are executed with too much explicitness and simplicity, in a way that too often grates. But yeah, Dustin has found a lot of personal peace, and it seems that his religious beliefs might have shifted a fair bit.



Overall, it suffers from a lack of ambition and some lack of personality. But it's an enjoyable 3.5.

Album Rating: 3.0

i will concede that something ostensibly on-the-fly like that isn't the same as sitting down to write liner notes like they did for previous albums, but there is definitely a difference in the sort of things they had to say about these songs.



dustin especially has always been a bad interviewee IMO, but the moments where he turns to teppei and is like, "do you have ANYTHING to say about this one?" and teppei is just staring into the distance are a little awkward

Album Rating: 4.0

hahaha

Alright you convinced me, I'll watch it

Hope it doesn't ruin this for me

Not bad. It's not disappointing in my opinion. It's just very similar to their previous album.

Album Rating: 3.5

I think we can all agree that Just Breathe is incredible. Thrice has always done very tasteful vocal harmonies, Whaler gives me chills.

Album Rating: 4.0

I think it's similar in a lot of regards, but it actually attempts to branch out. Stuff like the Blood on Blood harp, the 1000 voice outro on The Dark, the ABITR outro, the Emma vocals on Just Breathe, etc - none of that would have happened on To Be Everywhere...that album was just straightforward alt-rock. This has some twists.