Stationary Odyssey has a new record out on The Great Vitamin Mystery as well as a free EP that you can download here. I don't even know what to say about this music. It almost reminds me (at times) of Akron/Family or perhaps Fugazi dropped acid and began playing Devendra Banhart songs. Indie rock with a psychedelic and folkish vibe. Punk Planet called it "Sweet, dreamy, ambient music that sounds like it were made by a lonely child left in his room with a bundle of old instruments. The band's resident member Aaron Tanner actually collaborated with over 10 different musicians, but it still sounds like a solitary, organic project. My favorite new space-out music. (TG)" Good stuff from these (I think) Indiana dudes.
From their humble beginnings as a pop-punk band with a hard-on for metal, so-cal punks Thrice have become a force to be reckoned with in the world of hardcore. Over the course of four albums they have matured considerably. In 2003 they released their major-label debut, "The Artist In The Ambulance." It was filled with crushing moments of metallic hardcore fury as well as soaring melodies and catchy hooks. Their music is deceivingly complicated though. Metal riffage and crazy time signatures go almost unnoticed because of the great musicianship and well-crafted songs.
Thrice recently released their latest full-length entitled "Vheissu." It is similar in style to "TAITA," but it is darker, more menacing, and more worldly. Accented with atmospheric synths, music box-like samples, and even acoustic guitar, it is reminiscent of "Jupiter" era Cave-In, but perhaps a little heavier. It is melodic but makes you work a little harder to wrap your ears around it.
In addition to putting out great records, Thrice also gives back. As part of its record contract, the band insisted that a percentage of album sales of "TAITA" be donated to the SSE Foundation and also donating a percentage of sales of "Vheissu" to 826 Valencia. It's pretty rare to find a band (or anyone) that would write that into a contract. Oh and the cover art for "Vheissu" was done by none other than (one of my favorite authors) Dave Eggers.
MP3 | Stationary Odyssey - Perpetual Of The Retired Evermore Perpetual MP3 EP
MP3 | Thrice - The Earth Will Shake Vheissu
Friday, November 25, 2005
4 Comments ↓
I have to disagree with you on the new Thrice. I liked 'Identity Crisis' and 'Illusion of Safety' but 'Vheissu' is very difficult to get into--- they seem to have substituted their sense of urgency for more "lavish" settings ... just not a very enjoyable album in my opinion. Just too much messing around for my tastes.
Billy - I can appreciate your opinions, but what you may see and urgency in their earlier work, I would describe as immaturity. Those two early records seem to have been made by a band that wasn't sure of what they wanted to be. Vheissu is more challenging and less straightforward than anything they've done before. But...
I remember seeing Thrice open for Samiam about five years ago at Rubber Gloves in Denton. Their ascent has been quick. I enjoyed their DVD but I've never really gotten into their stuff.
Their earlier material definitely suffered an 'identity crisis' ("hey, we want to be Strung Out on this song," "hey, we want to be Slayer on this song" and "hey, we want to be Refused on this song"). I don't know what to think of their new material. I've never really warmed up to Dustin's voice.
What do I know? I'm just an old 26-year-old who's not in the target demographic :-)
Target schmarget demographic. Dustin's voice (at least to me) has gotten much better since the early days. He can actually (gasp!) sing pretty well and does on Vheissu.
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