Top Tier: Vheissu, Beggars, TBEITBN Mid Tier: TAI, Illusion Bottom Tier: M/m, IC Subterranean Tier: Artist
No one will ever understand the significance of that record unless they were in Orange County at a time when First Impressions was our only other frame of reference for Thrice (who were still a local band). Judge all you want now that hindsight is your ally, but this a common opinion amongst those who lived it. Sorry that my lack of fondness for Artist bothers you guys.
Not like I was one of the first publications to post about and cover Thrice or anything. In Southern California going to the House of Blues or Chain Reaction almost every weekend during their rise. I'll always argue that nostalgia can elevate an album you like, and that totally makes sense, but that nostalgia alone doesn't make it good. And Identity Crisis isn't very good. I had the sticker on my skateboard, I "lived it" ... and I can still say that.
The way I know IC isn’t very good is that 15 year old me thought it was bad ass. But I still love it.
When they released Illusion, they had a record release show at Virgin MegaStore in Costa Mesa. They played almost all of Illusion and even though the city curfew was approaching, they took requests off First Impressions and Identity Crisis for almost an hour. Their local fans loved those songs so damn much. 'Better Days,' especially. Within that context, and without the frame of reference we have now, those times and those records will never be devalued in my mind.
I read this as "I think of the title track. And the last track" and thought 'Damn, I guess he loves Beggars!' haha
So I listened to the first two tracks of Palms tonight and I think they really are great songs. Now I'm definitely more excited for the other 8 tracks. I sometimes wish Thrice were more proggy I guess, but these songs are solid. They have great instrumental flourishes, they're catchy as hell and dustin's voice is on point. Riley's drums actually do sound really great here and Ed is finally playing more prominent parts that add great texture.
It's always interesting to see the Vheissu-TAI-Beggars debates on here. I love how for the most part, this three album/project run is considered their peak, and it is interesting to see where people fall on which is best. For me, I have always been more into heavier Thrice than anything else. Vheissu and the Fire EP are pretty much as close to my desired sound as they have has ever been. The Water EP was also really good. The Air EP was kind of just there and I did not like The Earth EP at all. Beggars is undeniably a good record, and I can appreciate it and see why it is so beloved, but it doesn't have the same effect on me that Vheissu or The Fire and Water EPs do. It has its moments for sure though. (The Weight, At The Last, and the title track come to mind)
In my opinion Beggars contain his strongest lyrics. I'll concede it's a bit more literal than his earlier work so there's probably not as much to unpack, but that doesn't mean it's not brilliantly executed. But instead of us splitting hairs in what is surely a long list of great lyrical work, I'd love to hear you guys highlight some of your favorite verses, lines, words, whatever small thing that somehow stands out to you. Since I mentioned Beggars was my favorite, I'll go first: I think Wood and Wire is probably Dustin's strongest storytelling to date. He manage to paint such a vivid picture with very few words. The second verse of At The Last gets me every time. It's something in the delivery and how he doubts himself more as the song goes on.
That 2nd verse of At The Last if maybe my favorite moment on the entire album. Probably a top 5 Thrice moment for me.
Ed's riff after that line is one of my favorite things on Beggars. It's so damn good...and that grabber sounds so sick.
It's so good. They had a live performance of this song that was particularly fantastic, but I can't seem to find it anymore... :/ Never noticed that before, damn that's groovy! Thanks! See the pit boss, steal each tick tock Time it seems will suffer at our hands I look for exits in the haze, the dense electric twilit maze I've heard that there is one that leads to sunlit lands where Well, you're not wrong. I especially like his delivery of the first line!
As some have suspected, Ian Miller did play a role in Ed’s bass tones on this album. They talked briefly about it on this week’s Prodcast, Ian introduced ed to the rusty box pedal