Thrice: Anthology — A Perfect Goodbye

How do you make a graceful exit from a scene if you are a band who has toured for thirteen years and have recorded eight albums? If you’re Thrice, you hold a massive vote for your fans to choose the setlist for your final tour and release a TWENTY FOUR track live album before going on hiatus.
Today, Thrice has released Anthology, recorded over the course of their farewell tour in March and June 2012.

IT ROCKS.

Full disclosure: I’m a fan of Thrice. A huge fan.

This album, while being a final kiss blown in the directions of fans, could be enjoyed by many, because of the diversity of songs, and the energy and musicianship of the band.

If you have ever listened to a live album, you know how things work. There is crowd noise, clapping, singing along and some band interaction with the crowd.

What makes this album stand out is the quality of performance and the quality at which that performance was captured on the album.

The lead singer, Dustin Kensrue, who also plays guitar, sounds just like he does on all the albums, with just that little extra waver and rasp that comes from performing live and feeding off of the crowd. To describe his voice is to talk about a blues singer who can roar, with an almost smoothness that sounds like water flowing over wet rocks. All the low notes, the belted or crooned high notes and roaring screams are easily heard in the mix.

All the nuances and quirks of live guitars, bass and drums are perfectly captured as well, and the crowd is mixed in perfectly.

The twenty four tracks cover material from every album, all arranged into a swelling and driving show. Things move from heavy, pounding pieces, smoother and softer songs and fast numbers in what is very well crafted setlist.

Anthology shows the diversity of music that Thrice has produced over the band’s existence. What started as a post-hardcore, thrash-punk kind of band has evolved into a rocking blue’s band with post-hardcore elements. The voice of Dustin Kensrue holds together a sound which has changed as the band has explored different music, from pounding, dirge-like hardcore to wafting, airy melodies to even blues and folk. You owe it to yourself to start at the beginning of their albums and work your way forward in time, because Thrice defines the evolution of a band.

If you have never listened to Thrice, this live album is the perfect way to be introduced to the band.

For a fan, it’s the most perfect way they could have said goodbye.