Consider the Thief - Signs and Wonders
Rating
RIYL
ThriceThe Receiving End of Sirens
Dustin Kensrue
Release Date
06/16/2009
Label
UnsignedTracklist
1. Signs and Wonders2. Joshua
3. On High
4. Son of Hell
5. In Vitro
6. Miracles of Sand
7. Via Dolorosa
8. Until the Day Comes
9. No More Samaritans
10. Drink the Sea
11. Go Back
12. The Lost Son
13. Jonette
Users Rating |
Your RatingCreate an account or log in to rate this album |
Recent Ratings |
|
|
|
|
|
Sign and Wonders is at best the little kid begging to accompany his older brother wherever he goes, but fans will gobble it up Thanksgiving-style regardless. In what has to be one of the most tribute-paying albums since, well, the most recent genuine tribute album, Consider the Thief scramble to reconstruct the sound of Californian post-hardcore commanders Thrice in every furtive nook and cranny of their sound. The philosophy is almost reminiscent of My Big Fat Greek Wedding’s Gus Portokalos’ cure-all shtick, “Put some Windex on it,” but Consider the Thief are instead generously spreading “some Thrice on it” wherever they find appropriate.
The comparison is utterly inescapable. Even lyrical themes share blood with Thrice. The least derivative track of the bunch, “No More Samaritans,” laments, “We all walk like Levites and pass along side of the frail / No more Samaritans ever be stopped on the way;” similarly, “Son of Hell” proclaims, “And in all I’ve done / I’ve done all in vain / till I learn to say / Thy will be done,” and both take cues from Dustin Kensrue by laying Bible concepts out in full, voluptuous view.
Musical similarities are even more daunting; often, Consider the Thief cross the fine line and become Thrice. When the album is not consumed with cloning the Water segment of The Alchemy Index (see: “In Vitro,” “Signs and Wonders,” and “Miracles of Sand” for splattered beats and aquatic keys), it’s fusing different eras of Thrice’s discography. “Joshua” is a Water and Vheissu mash-up, opening with electronics, quickly morphing into heavy, lethargic guitars and finally bursting with prophetic lyrics riding the back of an elevating chorus. “Until the Day Comes” lifts directly from Vheissu, while “On High” is burning with influence from Kensure’s solo work. Main vocalist Dryw Owens further adds to the Thrice-tastic celebration by sounding identical to Kensrue in countless moments.
Only one real factor saves the album from destruction by critics. It’s risky business when anything retains but one positive factor, so it’s a good thing Signs and Wonders is bloated with a strong one. And why shouldn’t it be allowed to have one, as a celebratory gift of sorts for writing so successfully an album of spot-on imitations? After all, this memorable point is yet another channel for someone else’s sound. Remember Vheissu’s “For Miles” and it’s great and terrible emotional artistry? The same vein runs deep here; take, for conspicuous example, “Go Back” and “Jonette.” Whether Owens is expounding nostalgia or crossing the sea on “frail wings,” the level of active poignancy the melodies achieve drills into the heart and listeners are wonderfully touched by gorgeous structure.
Perhaps it’s better to write powerful music than to write original music. In ignoring just how close it was to being labeled an unoriginal, marvelous disaster, the verdict is that Signs and Wonders is saved by its passionate writing. If redundancy is overlooked, hardly a weak track looms in sight, which must be a cause of rejoicing for Consider the Thief. Still, the band needs to be cautious to know their place; since right now, they’re just looking at possessing the title of “Thrice-iest Thrice Cover Band.” Without a doubt, some evolution needs to be made.
--Matthew Tsai
Comments
Waterloo, Ontario
it's good, but it sounds a bit pretentious. on their myspace page photo, the second guy looks almost exactly like dustin.
Top Ten of 2009 http://www.decoymusic.com/users/3747/top_tens/2009
San Jose, CA
Yeah, it is quite pretentious, but overall they manage to pull it off.
last.fm/user/thetsaiguy
San Borja, Lima, Perú
there's nowhere to listen to it all so i can't make a judgement yet, but for what i've listened seems to be clouded because all the electronic decoration.
San Borja, Lima, Perú
Ok I've listened to this a few times and I must say yes, they pull it off. I must say I do sense a little of As Tall as Lions and another little of Coldplay here and there. Totally agree with the review and score.
California
guitarist used to be in Dance Gavin Dance for Battle Mountain.
Minnesota
I can definitely hear the Thrice comparisons, but if you ask me, this is way better than Beggars in almost every way. I'm pretty impressed by this disc, despite the obvious pretentiousness.
Edit: Also, this reminds me of VAST in certain parts too.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
San Borja, Lima, Perú
Uhmmm.. the thing with this disc is that all the electronica shitz really opaque the great work instead of making it shine (and other useless elements as well). Maybe it's the too much of everything compared to the right amount of something that makes beggars a better record, to me. But this disc is a winner nonetheless, great accomplishment for the band.