Thrice Band • Page 172

he blew out his voice recording it but I like it

 

It's probably best, first, to clarify the difference between "structure" and "formula." The most common structure we see nowadays is verse - chorus - verse - chorus - bridge - chorus. Thrice uses that structure for most of their songs. Formula, on the other hand, is how you use that structure. For example, it would be formulaic to always go quiet at the start of a third chorus, or for the songs to always build bigger as they go along, or for your bridges to always be a repetition of the hook from the chorus.

None of those examples are bad things to do, necessarily, but when you look at an album as a whole and see the same things done over and over again, that's when a problematic formula has appeared.

As for Alchemy, I would say Water is the most formulaic, followed by Fire, then Air, with Earth being by far the least formulaic. (In this case, I don't think formulaic = worst, either. I think Air is the weakest EP overall, even though I'd say it's the 3rd least formulaic.)

My issue with Water is how each song seems to be filling the exact same template. Soft and mellow verse, bigger and fuller chorus, repeat both, and then go straight to an outro that fades out. Even the instrumental track "Night Diving," which could have been an awesome opportunity for structural explorations, follows this exact formula. That said, I still think "Open Water" and "The Whaler" are wonderful songs, but I think they are weakened in the context of the Water EP.

The Fire songs don't follow so strict of a structural rule or template per se, but I still think they're a little too familiar to one another, particularly in the guitar parts -- there's SO much in those songs that's just 0 - 2 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 2 type progressions.

There's part of me that would like to argue in Thrice's defense and say that these "formulas" were intentional, mimicking the characteristics of fire and water, but in musical form. And maybe that's true.

But the fact of the matter, for me, is that I've analyzed these songs to death, to the point where the magic is gone, I've seen behind the curtain, and I just don't enjoy the songs much anymore. I'd pick Identity Crisis over Alchemy Index any day.

 

Yeah he was straight up sick during some of the recording, and they were all going through such rough times personally, with deaths in the family and such. As someone else pointed out, Dustin lost his voice during recording at one point, which is why "Call It In the Air" sounds pretty bad in particular. I liked that song so much better live than on record.

 

what does 0 - 2 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 2 mean?

 

I thought it was treading paper that he blew his voice out on?

 

Like, power chord tabs. Playing open, 2nd fret, open, 2nd fret, etc.

 

Is the only posting a radio rip?

 

Not what I remember. And that would also shock me because I think "Treading" is one of his all-time best vocal performances, haha

 

well he said he blew his voice out on it and he actually liked the results and thinks it added something to the song

 

ya, there was one really bad one that was like a phone recording it from the radio, the one I posted is a bit better

 

lol thats just not true tho... like the chorus from fire breather definitely uses some form of harmonic minor.. the riff has maybe that formula a tiny bit, but the other songs don't....

 

hahahahah I love you too

 

Firebreather and Messenger are the main culprits. I'm by no means trying to say each song uses only two chords for the whole song.

 

I'll add that "Arsonist" has some of my favorite all-time guitar work from Thrice, (even though I'm not the hugest fan of the song overall).

 

Bingeing as of now.

THIS VOILENCE! THIS VIOLENCE! THIS VIOLENCE IN THE NAME OF LOVE!

 

wait WTF IC over TAI hahahaha duuuude come on

 

New song totally rules

 

but even those two songs are very different...

 

Ok so you think it’s all structurally formulaic...
That could be, i don’t analyze music or know anything about music theory.

But the concept is anything but formulaic

 

Does the band not like M/M or something or do they not play stuff from that album as much anymore?

Also 80% of Beggars is boring, don't @ me

 

Wished I liked the new song more than I do. But I also need to hear it in better quality I think that def has something to do with it.

 

Black Honey imo is one of their best songs of all time.

Edit: Well it's certainly one of my personal fave of theirs.

 

@-ing you to say you’re 100% wrong

 

The Weight is one of my favorite songs ever.