Customer Reviews

The Alchemy Index: Vols. 3 & 4: Air & Earth

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Before beginning the review, let me say that I am a musician/recording engineer, and my other favorite bands are Dream Theater, Pat Metheny Group, Mew, Frost*, Porcupine tree, etc.
I say this to emphasize the angle that I am coming from in this review.
I will write a little about the actual album, but I'm mostly going to address why I think this works for this band at this time.
There are several other straight forward reviews that do the album justice.
I hope to write to the thinker and the lover of music who is wondering about this album.

I imagine that it's very difficult for a band like Thrice to grow and change. The reason is because they started out with a very "underground" metal/punk fusion style of music.
Usually, fans in this genre are very dedicated and passionate about "staying true" to the music.
They developed a following based on this sound, and from the early EP's, to Identity Crisis, to the illusion of safety, to Artist in the Ambulance, they developed this style as far as they wanted to...and realistically, as far as they could reasonably take it without becoming stale.
These were fantastic albums that all had their own merit for the time and place that they were written.

Then came Vheissu, which was quite a departure from their previous albums...and in my opinion, it was absolutely brilliant.
Now, with the Alchemy Index, they are simply going to the next natural step, and again, it's just excellent.

The reason why these albums work so well comes in understanding where the band might be coming from.

I know as a studious musician that there are points where you have a big shift in your tastes, and your writing styles. I think it's unavoidable when you really study your instrument and your art out of love for it.
Another huge factor that influences you is major life events that change you (marriage, having a baby, etc.)
So things that you might have found amazing in the past, might suddenly lose your interest in light of something new and different.
Likewise, things that you used to "hate" can now, with a new perspective, become very appealing.
For example, 6-8 years ago, I was an elitist "indie rocker" that only listened to music that no one else has heard of. I took pride in the fact that my music was so good, and so obscure. I also only liked bands in a very narrow genre and style. Anything outside of those boundaries, I "hated."
As I've grown and matured, I can only look back and laugh at how silly I was. I've since realized that a good musician can find the value in any style of music, and can realistically and objectively analyze it.
Here's one of many examples: To date, I have several reservations about Rap. I don't have any Rap artist that I find really appealing, and I don't have hardly any Rap artists in my music collection. However, I will always listen to anything that anyone brings to the table, because there is always something to be gained, even if it's simply an insight into the state of our current culture in America. So I don't "hate" rap. I just don't have any that has grabbed my attention yet.

As I have chosen to put aside the immature "elitist" persona, and have come to be comfortable with who I am, and my tastes in music...I have opened myself up to some wonderful artists in several different genres...many of which I would have "hated" on principle in the past, without having ever listened to them!

The reason why these albums (Vheissu, and Alchemy 1-4) resonate so deeply with me, is because they follow this line of reasoning very well. Thrice's entire progression from start to now is very similar to my personal progression as a musician over the last several years, and you can hear it in their music.

Many people seem to think that with these new albums, Thrice is still the "Illusion of Safety" version of the band that is trying something new and different, but will eventually come back to their senses.
What I would argue is that they are completely different people than they were then that have grown and matured and changed, and so their writing reflects who they are now with their new and unique set of influences.

With the alchemy index, you will find traces of their roots with Fire. But even in this, there is a lyrical and musical maturity that was only still developing in the earlier albums. There are no blinding riffs to rip your face off...but after some careful listening, you will hear the fantastic use of odd time signatures and interesting tension chords that give it a deeper sense of subtle technicality.

Water is where the album really takes a new turn. Continuing where Atlantic (Vheissu) left off, Digital Sea opens up with full electronic instrumentation, and makes way for the huge mood shift after The flame deluge closes the fire album.
There are no obvious hooks on water, which makes it even more appealing on closer listening. Texture, mood, and beauty take center stage, and it's nothing short of phenomenal from start to finish.

I just recently purchased Air and Earth, and again, I am blown away.

The whole album shows a calculated departure from overt intensity, to subtle developement.
As this is a concept album of sorts, the only way to really enjoy the parts, is when they are understood with the whole.
In our 15-second-attention-span society, I can completely understand why this album would seem boring or uninspired compared to their previous work.
But that's one of the very same reasons that I am so drawn to it. I love that it takes time. It waits. It allows you to think, and compels you to dig deeper.
That's what makes concept albums so amazing. It's about the whole idea instead of the parts. Seeing how the parts fit the whole is what gives it it's value.

This kind of conceptual, subtle, beautiful, experimental work is what sets thrice apart.
There are VERY few bands that I "loved" 6-8 years ago that I still love now.
Thrice is a notable exception.
I think some people are expecting the band to express themselves in the way that they expect the band to express themselves, rather than listening to what they have to say as musicians and artists.
I create music when I want to say something...if I'm buying a band's album, then I want to listen to their perspective.

I'm going to have to disagree with the reviewer who said this cd is "SOOO much better than Fire and Water" because thats just not true. All of the albums are appropriate to their own themes. However, with that being said, Air and Earth are nothing less than musical masterpieces. This series seems to be much more origional and creative than Fire and Water, which were also excellent in their own unique ways. They are most definitely in a leage of their own.

Having first heard Identity Crisis nearly five years ago, I would have never in a million years thought this would be the magnificent Thrice we are graced with today. This band has grown more than any band I have ever followed, ever. For all the OLD Thrice fans who might naysay the newer works; I hope you can open your minds to different outlooks on music because I can promise you this, you will not want to miss out on the splendor which is the Thrice of today. Forget everything you are habituated to and give it a try.

When the Alchemy Index, Vol. 1 & 2 Fire and Water were released last year, everyone was hit hard by how incendery and raw fire was, and how mesmerizing and trance like water was. Yet, not everyone was pleased with the album. I for one loved Fire and Water, even though it does have its ups and downs. I think most fans were left wondering, what are Air and Earth going to sound like? Will they be a dissapointment or will the complete the Alchemy Index into a stunning musical achievement? Well, suffice to say, having listened to Air and Earth thoroughly, Thrice have a elevated themselves over the first two volumes. If you were dissapointed in Fire and Water at all, don't worry, Air and Earth are much much better.

Air, is quite simply stunning to listen too. Dustins vocals are very impressive, I find them to be better here than they were in Vol. I and II, if only slightly. Broken Lungs is a strong intro track, giving you a good idea as to what to expect for the rest of Air. Everything on this album is near perfect. If I could I sum it up in one word I would say Blissful. Its hard to describe, it just needs to be heard. The closing song Silver Wings is truly special, I heard someone say they almost cried when they heard it. Its very moving and beautiful; by far the best closing track of the four volumes.

Earth is a complete 180 from Air. It reminds me very much of Dustins solo album, "Please Come Home." Very country and folky, Earth may come as surprise to some, but its excellent. Its hard to say which of the volumes is better because they are so different, but Earth is very strong, and with the nature of the album, the lyrics really shine here. There is a little bit of something for everyone here, but I can't imagine you not liking the Alchemy Index Vol. 3 & 4. Its just outstanding, and it really is much better than I had predicted. If Thrice continues to evolve and elevate themselves from here, who knows where they can go.

Thrice continues to impress. This album takes a softer tone than the first half of their Alchemy Index project. The "Air" album is a bit reminiscent of "water" from their previous album, but "earth" is something entirely new, unless you are familiar with singer Dustin Kensrue's solo work, which is resembles somewhat. Amazing lyrics, amazing music. Thrice is all grown up, and so is their music. But a little growing up never hurt anyone, and in Thrice's case, it has shown them to be the artists that they truly are. Pick up this album!

So, The Alchemy Index. What a great concept. I've been listening to these guys for years and am still in awe of what Dustin, Teppei, Ed, and Riley bring to the table with their ever so evolving sound. Do I miss their old sound? Songs like "Paper Tigers", "Silhouette", and "Trust" come to mind. Yes, I Truly do, but that doesn't mean that I will not accept how they are championing their creative views today. How can I not like Dustin's wonderful voice and incendiary lyrics, Teppei's inventive little touches here and there, whether it be electronic or guitar, and the tight rhythm section of the brothers Breckenridge. It's impossible. "Daedalus" and "Broken Wings" are so top notch that I forget about Dustin screaming his lungs off and am peacefully taken in by the new sound. Also, these guys are so solid that they still make time to give to charity. Pimp. What a great bunch of guys.

Wow. I don't even really know what to say. Air is definitely a boundry pusher for thrice but it still sounds like thrice. Reminds me of some of the slower stuff from Vheissu. Very "floaty" haha. Earth, on the other hand, is just...wow. This and Water are definitely my favorites. I can't even believe this is the same band that put out The Illusion of Safety. It's even wilder that I like this just as much. Usually to enjoy such diverse albums, you have to listen to two different bands. Nope, not here. Thrice all the way. Can anyone even fathom what to expect after this? A straight up 12 bar blues record? Hell, I'd buy it and probably love it too, ha.

Bottom Line: At the end of a long tiring day, sit back, kick off your shoes, open your mind and just take in the genious of thrice.

Air: 5 stars. Earth: 4.5 stars.

Hearing Alchemy Index's first two volumes set the bar high for me, as it followed up Vheissu, the record that made me realize this band was far above ordinary. This elemental concept is interesting and limiting them as EP's for the discs actually shows how strong and coherent their songs can be. I found there wasn't a single weak song on the first half, and now that the second half was out I can say that declaring it as a masterpiece CAN be justified.

The first disc, Air, has some of the group's most unique and fascinating tracks. "Broken Lungs" has some of their finest melodies and is a more electrified track from the album, although expect nothing like Fire. "The Sky Is Falling" shows Riley's ability to do cool drumming patterns and it shows why he is pretty underrated in the context of the band, as well as the fact that it has more musical accomplishment on the whole. There's stark and beautiful minimalist numbers as well like "Song for Milly Michaelson" and possibly my favorite "As the Crow Flies." "Daedulus" is probably the most catchy track on the album and has some really classic melodies that will appeal to fans of any part of the project. The closing "Silver Wings" is an awesome rhythm section experiment, unlike anything else. It ends things on a high note, as for the first disc.

Earth is probably my least favorite of the four discs but is still incredibly strong. It has the down-to-earth feeling of the Kensrue album but is more piano-based than that album. "Digging My Own Grave" has almost a jazz feel to it and wonderful lyrics to boot, where "Lion and Wolf" is pretty brief and "Child of Dust" is kind of strange, with a nice enough track but ending with recording the burying of a microphone. As for the songs of the "traditional" form, "Come All You Weary" has a fantastic chorus and a nice, positive vibe for the album. I can see why it's the single because it's my favorite from the disc. One song doesn't really follow these routes. I remember when seeing them perform "The Earth Isn't Humming" (originally from Frodus) and the maracas were being used, something I don't usually expect in a song from them. And the structure just rules. Actually I like Thrice so much that it convinced me to check out Frodus.

If you want music done with a lot of integrity that is a nice and intriguing listen, you owe it up to yourself to buy this. I can't do without Thrice these days and this final half of the Alchemy Index attests that statement.

The problem, I think, is that Thrice started their career forcing out albums with very little time to think about what they were actually doing. Subsequently, this has led the band a reputation of fast heavy rhythms, solo worthy riffs selectively jammed into tight edgy songs, and the throaty aggressive vocals of Kensrue. As amazing as these albums are, they seem to have become a thorn in Thrice's side. This is how Thrice first surfaced in the face of the music industry, the public and it's fans. Unfortunately, this is what many of those people are still expecting.

I will say this, Thrice has infinite imagination when it comes to writing music. But when it comes to marketing that imagination, that is something this band has much to learn. When nobody has a clue about this band and they hear these albums (Alchemy), they don't even know what they're listening to. They hear Illusion and might think "cool!," then this comes along and all they can think is "What the heck?" And really, you can't blame them. This is one area where I think Thrice needs to improve in order to get its music out to more people.

As someone who's been a fan of the band for over 5 years and who's been listening to their CD's nonstop ever since they've been released, I still don't get why they do what they're doing. They have ridiculous musicianship skills, and instead of using them to their advantage to create albums that might always sounds the same (and perhaps would be played on the radio), they use them to create music that nobody has ever heard before (and never makes it to radio).

I'm a big alternative, experimental, heavy rock fan, and when Thrice released albums like Identity, Illusion and Artist I was enthralled with how they took the genre and completely melted its face off. But just as soon as they became popular to me (I had never heard of them before Illusion), they began to change and Vheissu was released. Soon after followed by Vol 1 & 2, 3 & 4 of this album.

This has become quite a conflict for me when it comes to this band, both in my personal taste, and my wonderment in how this band is not more well known. In a way it proves that the public has no clue how to listen to music, and how they're fed catchy tunes with trendy band members who have no clue what they're doing--and how the public continues to eat it all up. It's become a conflict in my personal taste, because there's no comfort zone. When a new song comes out, who knows what it's going to sound like? And I think that's the biggest problem the public has with this band. Their only consistency is no consistency.

My point (and I know, it's a long one) is that if you want to listen to the same music over and over, and if you're accustom to hearing the same sounds the same bands have been making for decades, don't listen to this band. You'll feel like you wasted your money, and you'll dump all over it because it's something that you'll never understand.

This music is far ahead of so many other bands it's unbelievable. This album has so many different sounds on one cd, not only throughout the cd, but on individual songs. There are single tracks that go from heavier than you've ever known, to infinitely peaceful and serene.

If you want a CD that makes you wonder what the hell these 4 guys were thinking when they made this album, and want to feel what its like to have shivers from listening to it--and if you want to be feeling those shivers after more than 1000 plays (which is more than you can say about any of the bologna music that's out these days), buy both CD's of the Alchemy Index, and let them flood your ears.

You may not understand it, but that most definitely seems to be the point +



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Current Favorite Tracks:
The Earth Isn't Humming
The Sky is Falling
Silverwings

Preferred Volume Order:
Air
Water
Earth
Fire

Vol. 1 and 2 blew me away for a band as punk as Thrice, and these discs are just as good.
Like the last album, you can really feel the elements they're related to.
Air starts off with Broken Lungs, which makes you feel like you're actually falling through the air. Awesome.
Earth was very different from what I would have expected, and I'm loving it. The ending left me with no words to say for a few minutes.
Another great win for Thrice!

Clearly, the first two Alchemy Index albums were more in line with what Thrice listeners were accustomed to. These two were a change of pace that took most listeners by surprise. And naturally, not everyone was overjoyed with the lack of metal overtones. Initially, I would have claimed to be one of the disappointed. But the more I hear these songs, the more I understand, not only the direction and the cohesion all 4 albums hope to take and deliver, but also just how amazing this music actually is. Give it time. And expect to fall profoundly in sonic love with these 2 outings!