12.16.07
Waaaaaay late update: Alchemy Index Videos 4-10
I have returned from a distant land, journeying far afoot clad in leather vestiges (and fighting epic battles), only to find that much time has passed since I have provided you, the reading public, with an update on anything at all. Thrice’s new double-EP release, The Alchemy Index Vols. I & II, has dropped. I went and saw Brand New and Thrice. Why the hell didn’t I write about any of it? I don’t know. But what I do know is that I am back, right here in front of this computer, ready to give possibly the most delayed music update of all time. I present to you, with many apologies, the rest of the Thrice teaser clips.
Here’s 4, wherein the guys speak in-studio about the experimental nature of Water and the genesis of “Digital Sea which, according to Dustin, “just wrote itself like really quickly, in one night”.
5, on Earth: “bluesy stuff, jazzy stuff, to kind of even more classical”-Teppei
Six – Air, they say, is the most diverse of the discs. More in-studio jabber and another song clip.
Seven – Behind the making of Earth and…a Thrice song with a Zeppelin vibe? Check it out.
Numero ocho – Back to Air again…the song clip playing in the background sounds good, but Teppei seems really unsure of the Air album, especially when it comes to distinguishing between an Air and Water track.
N9ne. Fire. See also Video 3.
Ten. Watch as Teppei nearly giggles saying “wet”, in reference to reverb.
08.31.07
The Alchemy Index Video 3/10 – Fire by Thrice
Thrice unleash their trademark heavy sound in this clip of a fiery new unveiling. Ferocious is all I can say.
08.22.07
Thrice’s Alchemy Index Vid 2 of 10 Posted
(from alchemyindex.com) As promised, Thrice has followed up with their second installment in what is set to be a 10-part teaser series for the group’s upcoming Alchemy Index album, the first part of which is due out October 16. Unlike the first video, which featured a minute-long clip of Air Sonnet, the second clip features brief glimpses of the songs woven in between interviews about the freedom the band adopted in creating this album.
Interestingly, one of the commenters posted what is alleged to be the tracklisting for Fire and Water! Here’s the track list:
Fire Track Listing
01) Firebreather
02) The Messenger
03) Backdraft
04) The Arsonist
05) Burn the Fleet
06) The Flame Deluge
Water Track Listing
07) Digital Sea
08) Open Water
09) Lost Continent
10) Night Diving
11) The Whaler
12) Kings Upon the Main
Will keep you posted. I recommend checking out the other comments – one review goes through EACH SONG and gives a brief rundown.
08.11.07
Thrice Unveil Release Dates, New Label, More About New Album
(from alchemyindex.com) As promised, the guys at the Thrice camp revealed their exciting news to the world yesterday. The Alchemy Index will be divided into two albums: Vols I & II, Fire and Water, due out October 16, and Vols III & IV, due out sometime in Spring 2008. Additionally, the band has made the leap from Island Records (home to their previous two full-length releases) to Vagrant. This means that Thrice is that much more likely to tour once again with Dashboard (fingers crossed against that one) or even Saves the Day and The Hold Steady (better). What this ALSO means is that Thrice will definitely be playing new material when they run through Dallas in November, something you probably could have already figured by the fact that they scheduled a 42-date tour out of thin air. That’s called supporting the album. 
) Anybody else excited about hearing some new Thrice live alongside some new Brand New? The Devil and God are Raging Inside of Me is one of the darkest, most beautifully depressing albums that i’ve heard in a while. And, sort of like “Deadbolt”, I can’t seem to tire of “Seventy Times Seven” no matter how many times I hear it. Anyway, check out Thrice’s studio blog on a weekly basis for more video clips from the new material! “Air Sonnet” is currently posted for you to hear, and I must say it is innovative. Good day lads.
08.09.07
Thrice Posts Video…Sort of
(from alchemyindex.com) I checked out Thrice’s official studio blog for word on the new album today and found a post dated August 7 (yesterday) by the title “The Alchemy Index Video 1/10″ containing a large box with a red X indicating that, perhaps, a video should be in its place. I’m no techno-tard, so I understand that this could just be my own technical limitation (I am, after all, reporting from the gelid depths of Willis Library’s own general computer lab-full report on this to come). So for those of you on computers that actually, like, work, stay tuned to Thrice’s blog. 1/10 likely means there will be 9 more to come. I just hope they don’t all look like red Xs. And be excited, for no more than 3 months stand between us and Thrice’s monumental effort (and I emphasize effort – the magnitude of the achievement has yet to be seen and, as with Vheissu, I’ll be fair in judging it in a very biased manner).
EDIT (8/9/07): The video is now up and running with a bullet list of enticing announcements from Riley. There will in fact be 10 or 11 video previews of The Alchemy Index (working title for the album, I suppose), one a week up until the album’s release. The clip on the website is an edited version of “Air Sonnet”, which is not the working name of the song, but the harmonies at the end are nothing short of di-fucking-vine (way to sacrilege the word, right?). I recommend checking it out. Also, Dave Eggers is NOT producing the artwork; Dustin instead will take up the task due to time constraints. Eggers, as previously mentioned, was the artist behind Vheissu’s brilliant vintage engraving-style decor. I’m interested to see what Dustin can come up with visually. Last, there should be some more news announced today (according to one commenter, it’s the pregnancy/birth of Teppei’s wife/child, but we shall see).
07.26.07
New Details on Upcoming Thrice Record Emerge
(from Thrice’s blog, Alchemy Index)
Still no release date from the guys at the Thrice camp, but bassist Riley Breckenridge’s July 19 blog post sheds light on some exciting news. The album is wrapped up, the band has the masters, and Dave Eggers is manning the artwork once again after doing a phenomenal job on Vheissu. I’d look for a late September-early October release date on this one. Not much more I can say on this one, except that it should be interesting to see whether Thrice sneaks in some material when they hit the road this fall with Brand New. I’ve got my ticket.
07.02.07
I Resurface. So do Thrice and Brand New.
Well, to all of you who may still be reading this (or are just joining on), I promised I’d return in May, I think. It’s now the ass end of June. But I have good news! As you may or may not expect, it involves Thrice.
That’s right, Brand New is heading out on tour starting October 18 with Thrice and mewithoutYou! This is going to be a huge tour. It also marks the first time that Brand New and Thrice have toured together since several years ago when they came through with Dashboard on the Honda Civic tour, which was sort of my first proper introduction to Brand New. The Dallas stop is set to occur Nov. 14, so mark your calendars for a sick show. The House of Blues has my full recommendation as a venue, despite its obvious lack of underground cred (read: it is fully commercialized). The sound quality is great (at least in the small Gypsy Tea Room-esque performance area it was), the decor is suiting and detailed, and it pulls in acts like this one. Keep your eyes on this website for show info and purchasing information.
04.09.07
Thrice Aiming for September Release Date
I finally interviewed Dustin! Woo hoo!
Okay. Got that out of the way. But in our interview, Dustin mentioned a September release date for the new four-disc elements project Thrice is currently working on. I have absolutely no idea if he’s mentioned this in other interviews or not, but it’s news to me, so I present it to you. All I’ve gleaned from reading the blog is that they’re in the studio and that they’re wrapping things up…sort of. This is the first official word that I’ve heard of a speculative release date, so let’s call it news. Dustin also mentioned that the album will be released as a single unit, and they’re trying to keep prices down. I believe him. Vheissu is only 6 bucks on iTunes, I got The Artist in the Ambulance (my first Thrice record) for ten bucks brand new with the special packaging, and Dustin’s solo album was on sale at Best buy for 8 bucks (no more than 10 normally). Additionally, the guys will be donating a specified amount from each record sold to a nonprofit as they’ve done since Identity Crisis. I’ll type up a transcript of the chat ASAP (Brand New is tonight!)
03.31.07
Thrice East Coast Tour Dates Announced
Man, I’m on a freaking roll with these tour dates…then again, spring and summer are on the way, and that means it’s open touring season! Just a small update for anybody who might be checking in from the east coast…found these on Thrice’s official website. Expect a more complete list of dates to follow, as Teppei announced in Thrice’s studio blog that the four-EP elements project (Earth, Air, Fire, Water; one album devoted to the sonic stylings of each) is nearing completion – and completely self-produced. Thrice has gone DIY. Very cool. Teppei’s a creative genius, so I’m sure it’ll sound pretty rad! But I digress (note the typo in Moneen’s name!):
| May 1 | Orlando, FL @ Firestone | w/ Norma Jean, Receiving End of Sirens, Moneed | |
| May 2 | Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade | w/ Norma Jean, Receiving End of Sirens, Moneed | |
| May 3 | Charlotte, NC @ Tremont Music Hall | w/ Norma Jean, Receiving End of Sirens, Moneed | |
| May 4 | Towson, MD @ Recher Theater | w/ Norma Jean, Receiving End of Sirens, Moneed | |
| May 6 | East Rutherford, NJ @ Meadowlands Sports Complex | Bamboozle |
03.28.07
A Real Interview with Dustin. Finally.
Yes, my dear readers (if you do exist; I’m almost sure you do), the headline is true: I have finally set up an interview with Dustin Kensrue. This ain’t no cheesy email interview – this is a real deal phone interview. I’ll be speaking with Dustin on Thursday evening, recording the entire conversation, and transcribing it. Since I’ll be wanting to publish it in the SMU Daily Campus, I imagine I’ll buckle down and write that record review I’ve been…pushing back. So by early next week, hopefully, expect to see either an enormous article or a nice two-parter. I like leaving things right in the middle, so the two-part article is more plausible. I’m ecstatic.
By the way, sorry for lack of updates! I’m still alive, and I’ll be around. Keep checking back.
