Yelling about music...
And if you got that reference, you get twenty Justin points. They're redeemable for fuck all. But I'll like you a lot more.
Thursday - A City By The Light Divided
Sometimes it's nearly impossible to separate an album from a particular time in your life. For me, "War All The Time" is one of those albums. College, activism, social struggle, personal loss, sexual confusion... I stick all of these things to WATT like a bunch of Post-Its covered in angsty poetry.
So it was with great anticipation that I pushed play on "A City By The Light Divided." I really wanted to love it. I'm post-college, twenty-something, romantically frustrated, and working even harder on social justice. I was hoping that my favorite band had grown with me.
This album proves that maybe, just maybe, progressive rock and hardcore can exist on one CD without spontaneously combusting. The music and lyrics have become more complicated and the mix itself has become much more multi-layered.
Not everyone is going to like what Dave Fridman has done with Thursday's sound. Every track is far more sonically dense than previous efforts. The guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, and vocals smash together to form a chaotically harmonious whole. We can finally hear and appreciate Andrew's keyboards, and Tucker's drums have moved forward in complexity.
On the flip side, we occasionally lose Geoff's vocals, which is unfortunate considering how the lyrics have improved. However, I do not think this was a mistake; rather, it appears that it was Fridman's intention to make everything blend together.
But will it be the soundtrack to my twenty-something years? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure - Thursday refuses to rest and continues to challenge themselves. That fact alone makes this album a rewarding listen.
Rise Against - The Sufferer and the Witness
This is another solid effort from Rise Against. The band explores similar musical territory to what they've already covered in "Revolutions Per Minute" and "Siren Song..." If you enjoyed those albums, you'll enjoy this one. If you disliked those albums, there is nothing to interest you this time around.
However, if you have never heard any of Rise Against's previous efforts, this is arguably their most accessible release to date. Pick this one up, and if you hunger for something more abrasive and challenging, go backwards through their discography, starting with "Siren Song...", then "Revolutions".
And if you got that reference, you get twenty Justin points. They're redeemable for fuck all. But I'll like you a lot more.
Thursday - A City By The Light Divided
Sometimes it's nearly impossible to separate an album from a particular time in your life. For me, "War All The Time" is one of those albums. College, activism, social struggle, personal loss, sexual confusion... I stick all of these things to WATT like a bunch of Post-Its covered in angsty poetry.
So it was with great anticipation that I pushed play on "A City By The Light Divided." I really wanted to love it. I'm post-college, twenty-something, romantically frustrated, and working even harder on social justice. I was hoping that my favorite band had grown with me.
This album proves that maybe, just maybe, progressive rock and hardcore can exist on one CD without spontaneously combusting. The music and lyrics have become more complicated and the mix itself has become much more multi-layered.
Not everyone is going to like what Dave Fridman has done with Thursday's sound. Every track is far more sonically dense than previous efforts. The guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, and vocals smash together to form a chaotically harmonious whole. We can finally hear and appreciate Andrew's keyboards, and Tucker's drums have moved forward in complexity.
On the flip side, we occasionally lose Geoff's vocals, which is unfortunate considering how the lyrics have improved. However, I do not think this was a mistake; rather, it appears that it was Fridman's intention to make everything blend together.
But will it be the soundtrack to my twenty-something years? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure - Thursday refuses to rest and continues to challenge themselves. That fact alone makes this album a rewarding listen.
Rise Against - The Sufferer and the Witness
This is another solid effort from Rise Against. The band explores similar musical territory to what they've already covered in "Revolutions Per Minute" and "Siren Song..." If you enjoyed those albums, you'll enjoy this one. If you disliked those albums, there is nothing to interest you this time around.
However, if you have never heard any of Rise Against's previous efforts, this is arguably their most accessible release to date. Pick this one up, and if you hunger for something more abrasive and challenging, go backwards through their discography, starting with "Siren Song...", then "Revolutions".
