Thrice – Major/Minor

Thrice’s career can be likened to that of a fine wine – the longer the group ages, the richer the outcome.  I was a latecomer to the group, consciously shelving them until their ambitious Alchemy Index series of EPs caught my ear (specifically organic folk leanings of IV: Earth).  Since then I’ve slowly been gaining an appreciation for the long running post-punk project, having modestly listened to Beggars, and most recently introducing their sixth formal full length, Major/Minor, into my listening habits.

Where Thrice once embraced the vibrant side of youthful pioneering, Major/Minor benefits from the quartet’s wisdom.  If the Alchemy Index hinted at an evolving sensitivity, Major/Minor feels collectively in tune with it.  Vocals and instrumental atmosphere sound as if they were sung from a weathered stage by the burdened mind of a remorseful drifter.  Acceptance, regret, and reconciliation flood the sonic soundscape with the powerful emotionalism implied in every word.

“I was always one of the good ones, keeping tabs on everyone else; sure that I was one of the chosen, but I was a child of hell” moans Dustin Kensrue in a moment of epiphany on “Blinded.”  Ending with the blunt realization “I never thought I could have been blinded, until I could no longer see,” our subject experiences remorse with helpless self-depreciation of past wrongs committed with willful intent.  Kensrue’s weighted delivery digs deep, communicating with a compunction typically reserved for grunge acts like Soundgarden.  The whole album feels like an uphill crawl, from introspective inquiries (“Treading Paper”) to the more encouraging moments like finding a light in a dark place (“Words In The Water”).  Imagery plays a crucial role in Kensrue’s song writing, and strong lyrics define many of Major/Minor’s high points.

Musically, Thrice remains consistent throughout, peaking and dropping between tracks with heavy reverberation and a suitably thick chord selection.  While the heaviest work resides across the first half, the back end includes those like “Anthology” and “Disarmed” which serve as a suitable lead out, and treat the “post” aspect of their genre well.

Thrice has finally settled on a sound I cannot only stomach, but thoroughly enjoy.  Major/Minor is the definition of a late-career resurgence.  If Thrice still means that decade old Artist In The Ambulancesound to you, then it’s time to revisit and revaluate.