The Alchemy Index Vol III & IV – Air & Earth is either Thrice’s fifth or sixth album, depending on how you count it; as the title suggests, it’s the yang to the yin of last year’s Vols I & II – Fire & Water.
At this point I should be upfront about the fact that I’m not familiar with Thrice’s earlier material; indeed, I’ve not even heard the previous half of The Alchemy Index. But I know enough about them to be aware they sound very different to the way they did when they started out.
And, on the basis of Air & Earth alone, I’m definitely going to dig up Thrice’s earlier work, because this is a damned impressive collection of songs. I’m almost glad I don’t know the early stuff, because that means I’ve been able to come to The Alchemy Index without any serious preconceptions.
As is probably obvious, the album is really two mini-albums on one disc, each one themed after one of the four alchemical elements. First up is Air, and here Thrice range far and wide across the musical spectrum; the dreamy hallucination of “Silver Wings” owes more than a little to Sigur Ros and their ilk, while “Daedalus” is a wrenchingly emotional stripped-back rock song pivoting on heartfelt voice and guitar.
But The Alchemy Index begins with “Broken Lungs”, which gives an idea of what Thrice might sound like at full crank – epic, progressive and honest, involved and detailed, like an American incarnation of Oceansize, complete with surprise moments of staggering weight and discord. It’s less like air than it is like flight.
By way of contrast, Thrice return to simplicity for Earth, as is only fitting. And in doing so they make the latter half of The Alchemy Index Vols III & IV into six songs of progressive American folk music, driven almost exclusively by acoustic instruments and containing strands of DNA from blues and country descended through the last forty years of rock.
“Moving Mountains” is slow-burn melancholia with a country tinge, and shows off the spectacular sincerity of Dustin Kensrue’s voice – this guy could sing you his shopping list and have you weeping into your beer. “The Earth Isn’t Humming” sees Thrice turning moody, almost resigned – it’s bleak but comforting, like a haze of alcohol to keep the world away.
And as good as the Air segment is, it’s this latter half of The Alchemy Index Vols III & IV that really flicks my switches, because Thrice hit the bullseye with every throw they make. “The Lion And The Wolf” is like some lost and sinister nursery rhyme whose dark roots are long forgotten beneath its apocalyptic imagery, and “Come All You Weary” is simply awesome, like a post-rapture front-porch lament for the lost with Kensrue playing the lay preacher.
The close and intimate recording technique means the music is full of life but almost claustrophobic; you’re right there with Thrice in the studio booths as they lay the tracks of Earth. Frankly I’d not feel cheated to just have Earth as an album in its own right, but Air is a great counterpoint to it. If the previous half of The Alchemy Index is even half as powerful and captivating as this, Thrice just gained a new fan.
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Posted in Music reviews | 8 Comments »
Tags: Air, alternative, Americana, Fire, prog, rock, The Alchemy Index, Thrice
April 11th, 2008 at 1:05 am
Hey Dude,
That was a fantastically written review. I agreed with everything you said and more in this review, I had a smile on my face the whole time whilst reading it.
It’s so true, if Dustin sang me my shopping list it would be awesome and emotional.
You’ve just made a new fan for your website.
Consider joining Thrice Scene, the forums are only working at the moment until the social networking aspect is put into place.
http://www.thricescene.com
It’s a place for Thrice fans to come and discuss Thrice, reviews, interviews and more.
- Dwayne charrington.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Thanks Dwayne, that’s appreciated.
April 12th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Great Review.
The first disc is nothing like the second disc really.
The Fire record is split between some of Vheisues more heavy and more rocking moments while the Water is a mix of Radiohead Kid A elements with songs like Atlantic or red Sky off of Vheisue.
The Earth record only really sounds like a more developed version of Dustin’s solo EP Please Come Home while the Air record is a tweaked version of the bands more middle of the road fare.
If you have only heard the Air/Earth disc, I reccommend Vheissue as a more accesible means to bridging the gap for what they did on Fire/Water.
As well Artist in the Ambulance is one of their best albums before they diversified their style so much.
Many people still like Illusion of Safety the best but in my opinion their later work blows it out of the water.
April 17th, 2008 at 7:31 am
If you are going to review a band, wouldn’t it make sense to do your homework as a reporter and look at their earlier works in comparison to this one? It sounds to me like you are just a lazy journalist. Quit wasting my time with misinformed reviews.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:25 am
If you or the PRs send me the discs, Whiteford, I’ll happily do the comparison. Much as I wish it were otherwise, I can’t afford to buy the entire back-catalogue of every artist I get asked to review. I assume that, by way of contrast, you never pass comment on any song or album unless you’ve heard every track that band has ever released, as you are evidently a man of high journalistic integrity.
Furthermore, your criticism would stick a lot harder if I were a paid journalist and not an independent reviewer, and if you had bothered to comment on the substance of what I have to say about the album rather than my self-confessed lack of context.
In other words, I’m not wasting your time; you’re wasting your own time. Waste it elsewhere if this site bothers you. You talk loud, but you say nothing.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
just thought I’d tell you dude, earlier thrice is just as awesome. They sure have progressed and grown up, but Dustin’s lyrics are just as brilliant in the older tunes. It may be harder, punkier, but still holds thrice’s awesomeness. You like this? Try Vheissu on for size
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:49 pm
I completely disagree with Whiteford, and think that the fact that you have not yet heard earlier Thrice makes this review a breath of fresh air (no pun intended). I think that some reviewers do not like earlier Thrice work, and this puts a cloud over their opinions of their new work. Anyway, I really enjoyed this rewiew, especially the bit about Dustin Kensrue reading off a shopping list. I agree with everything you said.
January 20th, 2009 at 7:14 am
Mike is right for sure. Thrice has grown up a lot but Dustins genius lyrics start way back. I like Everything starting at 2003’s Artist and the Ambulance, and a handful from the previous record The Illusion of Safety. It may be different but its all outstanding.