Number 5. Thrice – The Alchemy Index

Number Five. Thrice – The Alchemy Index (2007-2008)

Thrice was one of those bands that slowly worked their way into my consciousness as I heard about them from different people I knew and saw news about them online. In October 2007, when AbsolutePunk linked to a full stream of their latest project – and everyone on there spoke highly of it – I checked it out. It was the first two parts of a four-part concept project known as The Alchemy Index, containing six songs under each of the four elemental categories of Fire, Water, Air, and Earth, which served as an inspiration both for lyrical themes and musical composition. I listened through it a couple times and generally liked it, but I was on the fence about buying it until I looked up the lyrics, really paid attention to them…. and was blown away.

The Most Significant Musical Releases Of The Decade: A Personal Journey

NOTE: This is the Ridiculously Long Prelude to my Actual List, which is linked here:
Week of 10/18 – Honorable Mentions (#14-#11)
Week of 10/25 – #10. Lord of the Rings
Week of 11/1 – #9. How To Save A Life
Week of 11/8 – #8. The Beautiful Letdown
Week of 11/15 – #7. Awakened
Week of 11/22 – #6. MMHMM
Week of 11/29 – #5. The Alchemy Index
Week of 12/6 – #4. A Collision
Week of 12/13 – #3. Brother, Sister
Week of 12/20 – #2. Define The Great Line
Week of 12/27 – #1. All The Houses Look The Same

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Little more than two months remain in this decade… well, unless you want to be technical and say the decade ends on a ‘0 year, but come on, when we say “the 80’s,” we’re not talking about 1990, so let’s call this decade 2000-2009. Anyway, it’s almost over, and I’ve been reflecting on those years and the influence they’ve had on my life, particularly in the realm of music.

Consider The Thief: Signs and Wonders

Consider The Thief is quickly turning into my favorite debut artist 0f 2009. My first reaction was that I liked it but it sounded too much like Thrice. Yet despite the obvious influences, this band has worked hard at the sound they have created, and I’m loving the album for both its music and its lyrics.

Essentially, Signs and Wonders sounds like newer Thrice but with softer, lusher vocals (think Band Of Horses) that provide an excellent touch. Flowing through time signatures and instrumentation with ease, the music is sometimes led by a warm piano, sometimes by the strong guitars, and sometimes by a percussive backbeat – but always with a well-polished, deliberate, and smooth production that drives without wasting energy and relaxes without lulling to sleep.

Artists I’ve Discovered Since Switchfoot Last Released An Album

Way back in December 2006, I either did not consider myself of a fan of the following, or I did not know they existed:

– Deas Vail
– Children 18:3
– Thrice
– David Crowder Band
– MUTEMATH
– mewithoutYou
– Tyler Burkum
– House of Heroes
– Brave Saint Saturn
– Project 86
– A Fine Frenzy
– The Glorious Unseen
– Showbread
– Ian McIntosh

I’ve Been Listening To Dustin Kensrue

Better known as the frontman of Thrice, Dustin Kensrue has been competing with the likes of Aaron Weiss and Jon Foreman for the title of “My Favorite Songwriter” since I checked out his band’s Alchemy Index project that released in Fall ’07 and Spring ’08.

TOP 8 ALBUMS OF 2008

Yes, this is only 8. But #8 is technically 2-in-1, and #5 is technically only one-half but #4 is technically three halves. This list is so full of EPs and concept releases and fancy projects that the numbers don’t really matter. So let’s go.

#8. Relient K
The Bird And The Bee Sides EP

Known for releasing a small EP between full-lengths, Relient K went overboard this time and gave us 26 tracks of new and old stuff. With something that ambitious there’s naturally a lot to skip over, but there’s plenty of great classic Relient K here. I’m really digging their current direction of a more laidback, layered acoustic sound that still has their classic creativity and instrumentation but without the old simple 1-2 punk rhythms.

TOP 11 SONGS OF 2008

This was a hard list for me to make. I don’t think the songs are quite as good as the ones on last year’s list, and maybe since i didn’t have 10 “totally amazing” songs it was hard to pick which “really, really cool” songs would fill in the bottom spots… so I bloated it to 11.

If any of them sound like something you might like too, just click the links…

11.”Little Ghost In Your Room”
Ghost of the Forest

I’m pretty sure I got this album at a CD release party in the last week of 2007, which means it practically wasn’t eligible for last year’s list and practically is for this one’s. The band called it quits this year, but I still like occasionally spinning their cheerful, homemade, indie-ish tunes. Their highlight for me is “Little Ghost In Your Room,” a cheery song with handclaps and background “ohs” as Robby reminds us (in amusing rhyme) to not be afraid of little ghosts. The rousing “ohs” of the chorus make the song even better, but the ending’s piano frills, classic Collin synth, and random handclaps make it pure awesome.