The Artist In The Ambulance,
ThriceDespite what the ‘Punk Police’ say, it isn’t cool to slag off bands for signing to major labels. Although you might want to save up your scene points to pay for that brand new Mesh Cap you’ve been after, it’s probably best to keep your hypocritical opinions to yourself for the time being, for the signing of a lucrative contract that will mean you can live and breathe your music without worrying where the next meal is coming from can often be a good thing in most cases (unless you’ve publicly stated that you will never do so, Mr Frederiksen… Yes, I’m a hypocrite too, we all are). When Thrice revealed that they would be leaving Sub City to sign a big money contract with Island Records, there were a number of people who notched one up for the predictable and slagged them off for their decision, but with ‘The Artist In the Ambulance’, they hope to silence their critics.
The first thing most people heard from the new songs Thrice had penned was the highly melodic and mildly radio friendly ‘All That’s Left’. While numerous people dismissed it as an indication of them ‘selling out’, I celebrated the return of one of my favourite bands and rejoiced in it’s comparative simplicity and glorious sing-a-long vocal melodies. Then I heard the second track to be made publicly available for download, ‘Under the Killing Moon’, and my heart skipped a beat. This was going to be a special album after all.
So came the day of release and ‘The Artist In The Ambulance’ was duly purchased from my local shop and I gleefully held it close to my heart on the bus journey home until I could run into my room and slap it in my stereo. Oh, how I was disappointed. The first couple of listens failed miserably to grab me and I was left a broken man as I ventured down to the pub that evening.
But wait dear reader; it appears I had made a horrendous mistake. My initial dismissal of ‘TAITA’ was horribly inaccurate. After repeated listens, through headphones as well as on my cheap CD player, I can hold my hands up and honestly say that they have done me proud yet again. Granted, it doesn’t quite touch upon the genius that was ‘The Illusion of Safety’, but I’d say it narrowly surpasses ‘Identity Crisis’ in terms of overall quality. As per usual, the opening track is a corker. ‘Cold Cash and Colder Hearts’ literally explodes from the speakers in a flash of pounding drums, soaring vocals and sawing guitar riffs. So, pretty much what Thrice do best then?
‘Under the Killing Moon’ and ‘All That’s Left’, despite being pretty much continuously on my playlist since they were downloaded, still sound fresh and inventive on record. However, the side is let down slightly by the refreshingly heavy, yet ultimately laboured ‘Silhouette’, which brings to mind hints of Poison The Well at times, but fails to reach these dizzy heights. Luckily, this is the only black spot on the record as the beautiful ‘Stare at the Sun’ and the blistering ‘Paper Tigers’.
A number of people have accused ‘TAITA’ of being painfully one sided. Nonetheless, I disagree entirely. The second half of the album is easily as strong as the first and, despite ‘Hoods on Peregrine’ and disappointing album closer’ Don’t Tell and We Won’t Ask’ letting the side down slightly, the majestic title track is a stunning little number that manages to pack a punch while still retaining a glorious emotional core. The drunken guitar solo sandwiched inside the verse, Dustin’s marvellous vocals and a positively spine tingling chorus that arrives at exactly two minutes and forty two seconds in make for one of the definite highlights of the album.
While The Artist in the Ambulance isn’t quite up to the flawless quality of The Illusion of Safety, it is a highly accomplished record with some positively cracking songs and with the band playing to all their strengths consistently. While you may be hearing them on Radio 1 occasionally (If you listen to the likes of the Lock Up or Zane Lowe) this doesn’t stop them from being essential to today’s music scene. Go out and buy it and be prepared to weep, mosh and play air guitar for weeks on end.
Ross
