Thursday - Kill the House Lights
Rating
RIYL
ThriceCursive
At the Drive In
Label
Victory RecordsTracklist
1. Ladies and Gentlemen: My Brother, the Failure2. Dead Songs
3. Voices on a String
4. Signals Over the Air (Live At Starland Ballroom)
5. The Roar of Far Off Black Jets
6. How Long Is the Night (w/Original Intro)
7. A Sketch for Time’s Arrow
8. Panic On the Streets of Health Care City
9. Paris in Flames (Demo)
10. Telegraph Avenue Kiss (Rich Costey mix)
11. Wind-Up (Demo)
12. Music from ‘Kill the House Lights (Demo)
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The latest release from New Brunswick, N.J.'s Thursday, Kill The House Lights, is more significant for what it represents than the actual content of the CD and DVD that make up this package. It's a sort-of return to home for the beleaguered post-hardcore band, released by legendary Chicago indie label Victory Records, from which Thursday split in a very public battle after the release of the band's seminal (and until now, sole) Victory album, Full Collapse. But with the new songs featured amidst the demos and live tracks on the audio portion of Kill the House Lights, the band also points toward its future, one that seems, sonically, more aggressive and precise than the sprawling, layered, experimental compositions that defined Thursday's last album with Island/Def Jam, A City By the Light Divided.
However, Thursday has never been very prodigious in its song output, and as revealed on the full-length documentary featured on the DVD, the band has struggled to fill its labels' requirements for album songs. Thusly, the CD facet of this set features very little unreleased, original content, and is mostly composed of demos, live recordings and instrumental takes. The CD leads off with the album's featured single, "Ladies and Gentlemen: My Brother, The Failure," whose thrashing rhythms hearken back to Thursday's earlier recordings (such as the iconic "Jet Black New Year"). The lyrical approach departs from singer Geoff Rickly's heavy-handed symbolism (a progression started on the band's last album), telling a very direct story of the dynamics between two brothers, as the title belies.
"Dead Songs," another new song, is even more aggressive, drums and guitars pounding away while Rickly yelps nearly incoherently. It's a further departure from the band's more recent efforts, and though the sound may attract younger listeners weaned on screamo, it may alienate further Thursday fans who were attracted to the band for it's combo of complex, multiple guitar textures and Rickly's yearning, almost New Wave-ish vocals.
The rest of the songs on the album include an adequate live version of "Signals Over the Air" (also featured in video form on the DVD), "How Long Is the Night" with an alternate intro, and demo versions of "Paris in Flames" and "Wind-Up." It's no surprise that those last three songs all hail from Full Collapse, given this is a Victory release. The CD is rounded out by a few other interesting tracks, including "Panic on the Streets of Health Care City," whose structure is nearly identical to A City By the Light Divided's "The Other Side of the Crash / Over and Out (Of Control)" — which begs the question: Was this the original version of that song? Or just an alternate sketch?
Most surprising of all is the DVD's documentary, in which the band, its management and Victory boss Tony Brummel are all very candid about Thursday's issues with Victory. Given that this is showing up on an official Victory release, you'd expect Brummel to excise any cuts against him and his label, but it's all there in full-color splendor. The entire film is full of such honesty, excellently directed by Thursday lead guitarist Steve Pedulla, as well as a bevy of footage, including early live performances, homemade tour videos and much more. The DVD also contains a full live performance recorded at New Jersey’s Starland Ballroom during the A City By the Light Divided tour, as well as music videos and extra performances.
Thursday fans will be delighted by the DVD, though possibly let down by the CD offerings. For newcomers, the CD isn't going to offer much, though given much of Thursday's appeal is in its intense live performances, borderline converts might just go all the way after checking out the DVD footage.
--PJ Perez
Comments
Oh, also, Victory also released Five Stories Falling with Thursday which Thursday apologized for and told people to steal because Victory forced them to release it.
Good man.
Beer Blog
Atlanta
Fishers, Indiana
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Green Brook, NJ
Sin City
Thanks for pointing that out. I was well aware; I meant to designate "Full Collapse" as the band's only FULL-LENGTH release on Victory. But since the band has dismissed 5SF as just something to get out of their contract, I figure us ignoring it is only proper. :)
Spreading love and joy since 1976.
Bloggery: Bleeding Neon
Sin City
Well, except me. And the band. Both Geoff and Andrew have said "A City By the Light Divided" is their favorite album. But that's typical: A band's favorite is often a fan's least favorite, because when a band puts out music FOR its fans, it's rarely music the band loves as much as an album the group records for itself.
The Cure's "Wild Mood Swings" is the same way: One of fans' least favorite, but Robert Smith has gone on record saying it's one of his five favorite Cure albums.
Me, I was impressed with the experimentation of Thursday on "City," but "War All the Time" is my favorite. "Full Collapse" was classic, but it was just a hint of what the band could do, just as "Waiting" was just a glimmer of what was to come on "Collapse."
Spreading love and joy since 1976.
Bloggery: Bleeding Neon
Norman OK
Totally, didn't mean it as a rip on your review or anything, as I thought it was quite good, just wanted to mention it as another important jab that always needs to be taken at Victory.
Sin City
Spreading love and joy since 1976.
Bloggery: Bleeding Neon
VT
My Top Songs of '09
The Appleseed Cast//as the little things go
Caspian//sycamore
Sunwrae//Chinook Winds
Dredg//down to the seller
If These Trees Could Talk//the sun is in the north
From Monument to Masses//an ounce of prevention
Straylight Run//i'm through with the past
LpShinobi's Post-Rock and Shoegazing Recommendation, via YouTube
Lpshinobi's Post-Rock Band, New Song Posted
Norman OK
Oklahoma
I haven't listened to FC and WAT enough to really decide if I prefer ACBTLD to the former two, but I don't understand all the hate it gets. It's not a bad record by any means--comparatively, probably not up to snuff, but in and of itself it's a solid album.
Also, Rickley's vocals have gotten waaay better between FC and ACBTLD.
Boston, MA
I don't like what he did with ACBTLD and the new Clap Your Hands Say yeah is even worse.
Stereo Typing
Tweet at me, bro
Yeah, that Clap Your Hands production is the worst. I wonder if that was what the band wanted though, who knows.
Then, you don't like Cursive because that's who's going back and forth with Geoff Rickley.
Pennsylvannia
because you take it, want it, need it forever
the more you take the effect gets better
which makes you need it to survive
killing yourself no need for knives
Atlanta
People who don't enjoy Cursive make me sad.
Sin City
Funny you should mention that, because in the Kill the House Lights documentary, Geoff specifically says "A City..." was his chance to focus more on being a singer and less on lyrics ...
Spreading love and joy since 1976.
Bloggery: Bleeding Neon