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48 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
NECESSARY RECORDING, July 16, 2002
Okay, I've actually owned this for a while. I've seen them several times and met them all at least once. I also know this cd by heart. I'm not bragging. Let me explain. I am NOT one to easily proclaim my admiration for a band. It takes a lot to really impress me. And this album and this band never lets me down.THE SONGS: This album is bookened (superbly) by two almost instrumental songs, #1 being forboding, and #12 giving some closure. The songs themselves are the product of musicians who care. The guitar work itself is reason to get hooked on this album; the two guitarists complement each others tone very well, using a lot of inventive chords and melodic phrasing. As for the vocals, they have a sadness and a sweetness to them that many artists strive for, but few achieve (also check out Glassjaw, Red House Painters, and Morrisey/TheSmiths for similar effects). Possibly, it's worth this album for the lyrics alone. It's become all too common for lyrics to become personal in content, but Thursday take it a step beyond personal. They make you feel everything from glass in your hair to blood in your eyes. Even without the music, the lyrics hold their own, and, let's be honest, you can't say that about most bands in the last 10 years. HIGHLIGHTS: "How Long Is The Night", "Paris In Flames", "Autobiography Of A Nation", and (yes) "Understanding In A Car Crash". WARNING TO SOME OF YOU OTHER REVIEWERS: I noticed several reviews that are negative of this album, which is fine, but some of which are negative for some (very) stupid reasons. Mostly, some of the people who listen to this have a problem with the screaming. ...Look, people, this is a band whose roots are very deep in hardcore; and investigation into hardcore, old or new, will display yelling and/or screaming. And some of you had a problem with the album being too melodic. The fact is, and will always remain, that screaming is a way of expressing an emotion or feeling in a way that a note cannot. It is to be embraced, much like a kitten/puppy (claws and all). Furthermore, this band took a lot of chances with this album, and it WORKED: one of the things that makes this band strong is the dramatic differences between soft and loud. If you don't appreciate the album itself, fine. But to discriminate against an album solely because of certain textural aspects, some of which are common to the "emo"/"hardcore" genre is pure ignorance. If you are one of those people, please leave the scene immediately; the fact that you only like your hardcore loud and angry is ludicrous. It makes the scene that much more unpleasant and uninviting. BOTTOM LINE: This album speaks on many levels (as mentioned above). I reccomend it highly. If you have a problem with loud, soft, vocal expression, or screaming, then please leave the album alone and stop bitching about it. If you like the idea of all four blending together, or have never bought an underground/hardcore record, then I hope this album becomes part of your life's soundtrack. Enjoy.
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