Sound: Over the last few years, Thrice – and their frontman Dustin Kensrue as a solo artist – have been fearlessly expanding their capabilities. Progressive, melodic aggression, reflective, atmospheric rock and folky, country-flavored folk have been major components of their releases this decade and demonstrated possibilities far beyond their punk/hardcore roots. On Beggars they effectively shift back and forth between all of these recent developments in their sound.
Heavy Rotation tracks: “The Great Exchange”; “Doublespeak”; “Beggars”
Medium Rotation tracks: “All the World Is Mad”; “In Exile”; “The Weight”
Recommended: Though the stylistic shifts on Beggars can be a little jarring, this is their most accomplished, engaging and consistent album to date.
Grade: A- (Top 20 Albums of 2009 Candidate)
Listen to Tracks/Buy Music:
On iTunes
On amazon.com
[…] 1. The Rural Alberta Advantage Hometowns (Saddle Creek) 2. Kid Cudi Man on the Moon: The End of Day (Motown/G.O.O.D.) 3. Brother Ali Us (Rhymesayers) 4. Psapp The Camel’s Back (Domino) 5. The Decemberists The Hazards of Love (Capitol) 6. The Mars Volta Octahedron (Warner Brothers) 7. Grizzly Bear Veckatimest (Warp) 8. Jack Peñate Everything Is New (XL) 9. M. Ward Hold Time (Merge) 10. Neko Case Middle Cyclone (Anti-) 11. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Lightning Rod) 12. Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino) 13. Handsome Furs Face Control (Sub Pop) 14. Electric Owls Ain’t Too Bright (Vagrant) 15. Chali 2na Fish Outta Water (Decon) 16. UUVVWWZ UUVVWWZ (Saddle Creek) 17. Thrice Beggars (Vagrant) 18. P.O.S. Never Better (Rhymesayers) 19. N.A.S.A. The Spirit of Apollo (Anti-) 20. The Black Crowes Before the Frost… (Silver Arrow/Megaforce) Filed in: Top 20 Albums Standings […]