Review Summary: Thunder And Consolation carries the post punk banner proudly, taking a listener to places previously undiscovered in a true masterpiece
I never knew my father. A dreary opening admittance, for sure, but not one without its relevance to this review. My father left our family when I was in womb, and I only met him a handful of times as a very small child, and therefore have none of that paternal affection that grows through years of bonding and education. All, except for one dear memory, when I went searching for that fellow. I was eighteen years old, going through an extremely rough and disjointed time, and wished to know where I came from. It was one dark and stormy night, with Pearl Jam's 'Alive' blasting through my headphones, when I made contact, and that weekend I visited him, in his flat in Dawlish, Devon. The man himself was nothing special - in fact, he was a real piece of work - but the only memory I have connected to him was watching a live DVD of his favorite band, New Model Army. Imprinted into my mind now and forever is that image of a television screen relaying the more mature incarnation of a group of angry young men, not dissimilar to myself at the time, and it was hearing songs such as 'Stupid Questions' and 'Green And Grey' that my mind became fixated upon the band, and I endeavored to listen to their supposed magnum opus, Thunder and Consolation.
I would like to thank my father, deadbeat old man attempting to hold on so desperately to his punk youth though he was, for introducing me to such a pure and fascinating expression of pure common sense. This is an album that contains songs based entirely around simplistic chord progressions, containing a group of men disillusioned with the systems surrounding them, that elected to channel those frustrations into lyrics that anybody could sing along to and appreciate. All of this can be found within the chorus of one of those two previously mentioned songs, where the vocalist implores us "don't ask anymore stupid questions you already know the answers to". Simple and yet effective pearls of wisdom such as this are scattered throughout each of the songs here, whilst the music backing them is consistently effective. '225' contains many of the hallmarks of the more restrained punk guitarists, with its chugging guitars and chords left to ring out over a relentless and thoroughly enjoyable drum beat. One thing that catches my ear when re-listening to this album is that every member sounds like they are having nothing more than sheer fun, and it is those infectious grooves that make the heartfelt lyrics of Justin Sullivan so efficient in hitting where it matters. "I will protect you I swear, though we never asked for any of this" he declares, and the band's legion of fans, better known as either the "militia" or the "family" could testify to this, having been carried through so many difficult periods by this truly remarkable record.
This is an album that scarcely feels derivative of any other artist out there, with each song bringing its own ideas and motifs to the table. The almost-spoken-word opening lyrics compliment the gentle and considered introduction to 'Archway Towers' prior to the introduction of some gorgeous lead guitars that only add to the feeling of melancholy evident as the vocals become more and more strained. "Join the queue at the video library to watch ninety-five minutes of simulated torture," Sullivan croaks, before heavier chords ring out and those same leads sound more like scratching on a chalkboard than anything, lending a genuine intensity to this particular track. At the total opposite of the spectrum is fan favourite 'Green and Grey,' a song that packs a punch unlike any other in the band's entire discography. The song takes a moment to fade in, before the most soothing and yet thoughtful acoustic melody leads into the verse. During this first verse, Sullivan croons, before the drums kick in and the song becomes a different beast altogether, with heavier chords ringing out as it progresses, and then the differing riffs keep it feeling interesting and relevant. I find it necessary to mention at this point, this is among the most creative and interesting songs I have ever heard, and the perfect entry point for anyone unfamiliar with the band.
It would be easy to continue speaking of all the songs at length, for they all have something to offer. However, it is probably better to leave a lot for a potential listener to experience first hand rather than having it teased at in a review. Therefore, in summary, this is a truly brilliant effort slotting into the 'post punk' style yet carving out its own niche. It is full of brilliant songs and creativity abundant, and a mixture of both its own sheer brilliance and a small dashing of nostalgia have pushed it into the upper echelons of my personal favorite records, and one of those albums that I recommend to anyone who asks. In a small conclusion to the brief anecdote that opened the review, my father passed away last year. I know not the cause, and I had no sadness whatsoever regarding it, but recently I have been thinking a little about how things could have been different, and this album has been in my mind considerably. I guess that is my father's legacy, such as it is, and I am immensely thankful to him now and forever for introducing me to this band. "Thunder and Consolation" is a masterpiece.
"The time I think most clearly, the time I drift away
Is on the bus ride that meanders up these valleys of green and grey.
I get to think about what could have been, and what may yet come true."
