Thrice: The Artist in the Ambulance [2003] — Album Review

Dustin Kensrue: Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Teppei Teranishi: Lead Guitar

Eddie Breckenridge: Bass

Riley Breckenridge: Drums
Produced by Brian McTernan

Tracklist:

1. Cold Cash and Colder Hearts – 2:52

2. Under a Killing Moon – 2:41

3. All That's Left – 3:20

4. Silhouette – 3:06

5. Stare at the Sun – 3:23

6. Paper Tigers – 3:59

7. Hoods on Peregrine – 3:31

8. The Melting Point of Wax – 3:29

9. Blood Clots and Black Holes – 2:49

10. The Artist in the Ambulance – 3:39

11. The Abolition of Man – 2:46

12. Don't Tell and We Won't Ask – 3:59

Vinyl Bonus Track:

13. Eclipse – 3:21

Total Runtime: 39:34/42:55

First off, let me start by saying that I'm sorry I missed last week's scheduled review of The Room's Too Cold, I'll get around to it eventually. Now back to your review: Ahh... and so we come to Artist. Thrice are a post-hardcore/emo band who, unfortunately, are on hiatus—though at the current time (October 2015), they're playing shows but nothing seems to be planned after those few shows. Their last album was Major/Minor in 2012, with Anthology coming out as their last release (it's a live album). The Artist in the Ambulance is Thrice's third album, and major label debut, after departing Sub City/Hopeless following The Illusion of Safety.
Artist starts with Kensrue shouting "They are sick/They are poor" which is the memorable opening for "Cold Cash and Colder Hearts", a very well-crafted song. Next is "Under a Killing Moon", which was featured on the 2003 Warped Tour Compilation. The guitar in the beginning just sounds epic. "All That's Left" comes in with its eerie feedback, and lays down another solid tune.
"Silhouette" is the first song on the record to really showcase Kensrue's screaming capability (besides the end of "Cold Cash"), which is terrific.
"Stare at the Sun", our fifth song, has some of the most amazing-sounding guitar work I've ever heard. Riley's drum work is equally as excellent. "Stare at the Sun" bleeds into "Paper Tigers", a song where all of Kensrue's vocals are screaming. The guitars sound great, and the lyrics are perfect.
After "Paper Tigers", we have what I call the "leading up to "The Artist in the Ambulance" trilogy". Because they're the three songs right before track 10, which is my favorite. In this we have "Hoods on Peregrine", a strong effort, "The Melting Point of Wax", a cool song with some great imagery, and "Blood Clots and Black Holes", another good song.
After the trilogy, we have easily the best song on Artist, "The Artist in the Ambulance". This is honestly my favorite Thrice song. The vocals are catchy and awesome, and the guitars are freaking great.
Following our high point, is probably the low point of the album, "The Abolition of Man" isn't all that amazing of a song. It's just okay. But picking it back up for a decent closer is "Don't Tell and We Won't Ask".
On the vinyl re-release, we have bonus track "Eclipse", which is quite a decent addition to the album. (Also, it sounds like the vinyl tracks don't seem to be the same versions as the CD, as the mastering seems to be different and the way Kensrue sings on "The Artist in the Ambulance" is quite audibly different.)
The Artist in the Ambulance is a classic album, and a staple for the hardcore and post-hardcore genres. It has some flow issues, but overall it sounds great.

Cold Cash and Colder Hearts: 9/10

Under a Killing Moon: 9/10

All That's Left: 9/10

Silhouette: 7/10

Stare at the Sun: 10/10

Paper Tigers: 8/10

Hoods on Peregrine: 8/10

The Melting Point of Wax: 8/10

Blood Clots and Black Holes: 8/10

The Artist in the Ambulance: 10/10

The Abolition of Man: 6/10

Don't Tell and We Won't Ask: 8/10

Eclipse: 8/10

Subtotal: 100/120 108/130

Bonus Points:

A+ Guitar Work: +2

Total: 102/120 110/130

Score: 8.5 Excellent (8.5 Excellent)

Genres: Post-hardcore, Emo, Hardcore

Last Week's Review: The Room's Too Cold by The Early November

Next Week's Review: Through Being Cool by Saves the Day
Next Thrice Review: All That's Left [Single/7"]

Senses Fail: Life is Not a Waiting Room [2008] — Album Review

Buddy Nielsen: Vocals

Garrett Zablocki: Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar

Heath Saraceno: Backing Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Jason Black: Bass

Dan Trapp: Drums
Produced by Brian McTernan

Tracklist:

1. Fireworks at Dawn – 2:10

2. Lungs Like Gallows – 3:21

3. Garden State – 3:39

4. Family Tradition – 3:34

5. Wolves at the Door – 3:27

6. Hair of the Dog – 3:50

7. Four Years – 4:16

8. Ali for Cody – 4:02

9. Yellow Angels – 3:42

10. Chandelier – 3:41

11. Map the Streets – 3:27

12. Blackout – 4:55

UK Bonus Tracks:

13. Life is Not a Waiting Room – 3:19

14. DB Cooper – 2:59

iTunes Bonus Tracks:

13. DB Cooper – 2:59

14. Coming Up Short – 2:14

Total Runtime: 44:04/50:22/49:17

Life is Not a Waiting Room is the third album by Senses Fail. And boy, what a step up it is from Still Searching. Not that Still Searching is a bad album in any way, but it wasn't exactly a step up from 2004's Let it Enfold You. Plus that album art is hideous. Life is Not a Waiting Room (while not only having a substantial upgrade in the cover art department) is sure to please any Senses Fail fan, unless, like with every band I seem to cover, you're stuck on their first album and think everything afterwards is trash (I'm looking at you, "fans" of Saves the Day).
Life is Not a Waiting Room starts out extremely strong with the slow, somber notes of "Fireworks at Dawn" which bleeds right into the powerhouse that is "Lungs Like Gallows". Nielsen's screaming on "Lungs Like Gallows" sounds perfect, and not even close to as eerily-high-pitched as on "Irony of Dying on Your Birthday" from Let it Enfold You.
Then the album takes a turn for Senses Fail's other strong suit—pop-punk—for "Garden State", which has some awesome guitar work. Continuing with the awesome guitar work is the opening and the rest of "Family Tradition". "Wolves at the Door" and "Hair of the Dog" are good but not much to note from them, besides the lyric "I'm more yellow than my own piss" in "Wolves at the Door" which kinda concerns me. Buddy, if you're reading this, please drink more water.
Then we get the fucking amazing-sounding guitar riff that is the intro and verse for "Four Years", and a great song to boot. "Ali for Cody" is a great follow-up, and then we take a turn for the slow in "Yellow Angels", bringing in some nice piano and repeating the outro of "Four Years": "Wake up, you're sleeping, wake up, you're sleeping behind the wheel".
Again, with the amazing riffs is "Chandelier" which is honestly one of the cooler songs on the album. Bringing back the pop-punk is "Map the Streets" which is another great addition. Closing out the standard CD is "Blackout", which is rather okay, not exactly noteworthy.
On the UK version of Life is Not a Waiting Room, we have two more songs. First, the title track, "Life is Not a Waiting Room", which has a killer guitar intro, which plays throughout most of the song. Second, we have "DB Cooper", a decent song, but nothing that's gonna make anyone buy the UK version.
On the iTunes version, we also have two more songs, first, the aforementioned "DB Cooper", and "Coming Up Short", which is again, just a nice little bonus.
Life is Not a Waiting Room is my personal favorite Senses Fail album, and that's because it's just so good. The album is very cohesive and flows nicely. Nielsen's screaming sounds great and so do his vocals. The guitars sound amazing, and are quite intricate.

Fireworks at Dawn – 9/10

Lungs Like Gallows – 10/10

Garden State – 10/10

Family Tradition – 8/10

Wolves at the Door – 6/10

Hair of the Dog – 7/10

Four Years – 9/10

Ali for Cody – 8/10

Yellow Angels – 8/10

Chandelier – 9/10

Map the Streets – 9/10

Blackout – 7/10

Life is Not a Waiting Room: 9/10

DB Cooper: 7/10

Coming Up Short: 7/10

Subtotal: 100/120 116/140 114/140

Bonus Points:

Killer Choruses: +2

A+ Guitar Work: +2

Total: 104/120 120/140 118/140

Score: 8.7 Excellent (8.6 Excellent) (8.4 Excellent)

Genres: Pop-Punk, Post-Hardcore, Emo

Last Week's Review: Static Prevails by Jimmy Eat World

Next Week's Review: The Silence in Black and White by Hawthorne Heights

Next Senses Fail Review: The Fire