On third listen, I'm liking "Hold Up a Light" more, but I'm still not too keen on the vocals throughout or the guitar in the chorus.
"Just Breathe" (with Emma Ruth Rundle) is one of Thrice's finest songs to date. It incorporates the best parts of Air in one track, and yet, it has the groove of Beggars.
Ok, I don't know what to point to specifically, but there's much in the album that brings to mind Dustin's solo work.
A thought on the lyrics...Though their sound has changed again and again over the years, I think *every one* of their albums shares the following two lyrical features at a minimum: (a) a clear love song, and (b) a song that borrows heavily from C.S. Lewis or one of his influences (Tolkien, Chesterton). I figure "My Soul" fits (a), but I don't see any track on *Palms* that fits (b). Maybe more time with the lyrics will reveal something; otherwise, that'd be one clear departure on this album.
"A Branch In The River" is one of the coolest Thrice tracks ever. It blew me away the first time I heard it last weekend, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. It's basically the "At the Last" of this record (only tougher/better).
Just bought the mp3 album. Only song I listened to was 'The Grey'. The bass tone on Only Us is filthy, y'all.
I'm curious which tracks they'll play live. I'd guess the closer, "Only Us", "Just Breathe", and "The Grey" at least. It will be interesting to see what translates well live.
Thrice is the best band in the world, guys. Palms is an amalgamation of Vheissu, The Alchemy Index & Beggars. It would've been the perfect follow-up to those records. God, it's a beautiful record.
My only quibble is that it's too abbreviated. I'm quite curious about those 4 b-sides (minimum) that they didn't sequence.
I'm only on "Everything Belongs" and this has me even more excited since I really dig the first half so far.