I really would say so. Moody electronic slow build on Only Us, straight hard rockers on Grey, Branch and Hold a Coors Light (not a bud light fan), stripped down indie style on Pines and Blood, ballad style Everything Belongs and whatever you'd describe Just Breathe and Dark as. Isn't that pretty stylisticly different? Who knows which style the we'll get with the tracks or maybe something completely different
Songs can include instruments infrequently used by this band and still be similar stylistically to what they usually do. Only Us is a great example, as is The Dark
They took some risks sound-wise on Palms, not so much structurally. Palms may not be loved universally but at least they didn't take the easy route and write TBEITBN part two.
I don’t consider anything about this album a risk at all, especially when compared to the few albums they released that were ACTUAL risks. Like I said, this is pretty much just Thrice doing Thrice.
It really upsets me that "It's Not Enough" is NOT a Thrice song. (It was supposed to be at first.) That and "Carry the Fire" still sting.
As was I. Having "MH" associated with what might be Dustin's greatest piece of songwriting is painful. In general, if Teppow and Wreckin' Bridges jammed on those songs, they'd be even greater.
Nice write up. More posts like these please. Really? I dunno...after the success they had with TBE it would have been risk free to do another one of those straight forward rock types....but we got a crazy mixed bag of tracks. That is risky. Either way, we got 10 great songs to add to their discography, so I'm satisfied.
The best hope we have is if they pull a Staind, where Aaron Lewis gets the band to play some of his solo songs in Staind sets. I'd be totally down for them to bust out It's Not Enough live reworked a little bit with Thrice.
Yeah there's like three songs off of this that feel like they did something different. The rest kind of just falls flat to me
I know you seem really into this album, but if you take off your the rose-colored glasses (headphones/earbuds?) you’ll realize nothing about this album is “crazy.”
I’ve liked everything Thrice has released starting at Illusion of Safety when I discovered the band. Sometimes bands growth can turn me off the ting I like about them, but Thrice is the opposite. They improved, and experimented with purpose. They didn’t get lazy, they actually worked harder to use different instruments, self produce, use other complimentary instruments, and with Palms, include a guest vocalist. I’m still part of the I missed them when they went on hiatus and will continue us to appreciate every moment now that they are back. Not everything song will be the best song, or album, but Beyond The Pines, Long Defeat, Black Honey, Just Breathe, on and on since coming back adding to amazing discography. Plus an EP of additional songs in the spring. Feeling lucky as a Thrice fan. Just wish they could always headline for longer sets.
haha but I'm one of the most non hyperbolic people in this thread. There was no "this is the best album they've done" or "this is garbage" or even the mix of the two where people flipped and went back and forth from me. It's always been a "this is good" from me and I rank it as a whole middle of the road for them. I still don't see how this album doesn't mix it up more than Beggars, M/M and TBE but to each their own. I was surprised by what they did on this album.
This is me too. I came to terms with them breaking up so these two albums just add some great songs to their discography. Super lucky.
I also think people are going to post revised Palms tracklist when the EP comes out, or why didn’t this song make it etc. I just hope it accessible for fans. Palms did feel a little short. Don’t know why, just maybe I have a large appetite for their music.
Beggars is far more varied than all three albums that followed it and M/M/TBE are not varied much at all. Only difference between those two are the band wrote much stronger songs on TBE and Dustin wrote much better lyrics and hooks
I also didn’t list the records they self produced or instruments they experimented with. It a broad point about trying new things.
I'm glad you mentioned the hiatus. I'll definitely take thrice over no thrice thank you very much. I appreciate any new music we get from them. I'm happy they're happy and making music they want to.
Considering how much you stated about Thrice and specified Thrice songs, I feel like you can definitely spare some time to give "guest vocalist" a name. I also would not compare a human to instruments or self-produced records as things you wouldn't specifically name. I think she deserves more than just "guest vocalist" considering how many women in music are poorly treated or ignored. This thread is evidence enough of that when people would just say "female vocalist" as opposed to her actual name.
Why do you feel the need to do this? Serious question. I said guest vocalist, not female vocalist. Emma was (probably) paid to sing complimentary and backing vocals on a song she didn’t write. She did a fantastic job of it, and it added something special to a Thrice song. But, I don’t have to be some a fan of hers and buy all her records. For all I know, the person who played harp was female, and I didn’t credit her (or him either). Maybe when you respect women and treat them as peers, you don’t need to identify them strictly because you feel the need to mention females. I also say “producer”, when I refer to Palmquist. He put a lot of work into TBE and parts of Palms. But, being a Thrice thread, I’ll acknowledge the band, players, albums and songs, and not try to sound like an expert of specific gear or personnel. Also, when I acknowledge adding guest vocals as being a positive (yes...she’s female), saying women aren’t acknowledged enough is the opposite of what I’m doing. If you are Ruth, sorry I didn’t mention you name, but I only know you name because you were featured on a Thrice track. I also streamed a track of yours on YouTube as a result of of the good cross promotion by appearing with a band I love. I didn’t buy an album though. Maybe get Dustin to come do some guest vocals as a favour back and I’m buying.