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| Alchemy Index, Vol. 3 & 4: Air and Earth |
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List Price: $13.98
Our Price: $12.99
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Manufacturer: Vagrant Records
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0601091048027
Label: Vagrant Records
Manufacturer: Vagrant Records
Number Of Discs: 2
Publisher: Vagrant Records
Release Date: 2008-04-15
Studio: Vagrant Records
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Editorial Reviews:
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Thrice s boundary pushing continues with the second installment of the Alchemy Index series. Volumes 1&2 (Fire & Water), released in October of last year, were met with tremendous critical acclaim and fanfare. Fans and critics were especially impressed with the Water side and just how far the band had pushed the parameters of what they can do as professional musicians.
The Earth and Air series show two more sides of the band that anyone has yet to see. The Earth side will showcase a more stripped down, raw element of the band, while Air will expose a more soft rock side. One thing is for certain...no one really knows where Thrice s music is going, and their fans seem to like it just fine that way.
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| Spotlight customer reviews: |
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Perfect elements...
Comment: The four albums that make up Thrice's mammoth epic "The Alchemy Index" is some of the finest music of the past few years. Dustin Kensrue and the rest have proven here that their well of talent goes deeper than we ever could have imagined. Their first few albums of suberbly crafted metalcore have spawned many imitators in the genre, and they must have been aware of this, as they seemed to have made a conscious decision to explore vastly different territory, and leave the also-rans in the dust. Sort of like saying "So, you think you can be like us? You can't even touch what we can do". Well, that's my interpretation, anyway...
So "The Alchemy Index", a 4-part representation of the four elements, brings a different feel to each disc, and the latter half is no exception. From the raging metal of "Fire", to the mesmerizing Isis-like atmospherics of "Water", this album proved to be diverse from the beginning, and this continues with the sparkling clean-electric guitar driven dream pop of "Air", and the cozy progressive folk acoustics of "Earth". Each disc brings its respective element to life perfectly, and although this part is decidedly less aggressive than the first half, it's no less heavy emotionally. This is perhaps all capped off the best with "Digging My Own Grave", the stunning Tom Waits-meets-Damien Rice ballad that's just really like nothing else the band has ever done before (yeah, even compared to the rest, it stands out as different). Of course, there are tons of greats here, like the huge power pop of "Silver Wings", the dazzlingly complex "The Earth Isn't Humming", and the semi-spiritual "Come All You Weary", which would have fit in nicely on Dustin's solo album.
Talking about the whole thing would take forever, but suffice it to say there's not a weak moment here. I hate to even try to review this album by itself, as I consider all four parts to be one big album. I always listen to it all as a whole, and I think it's best taken as such. Each disc is only about 25 minutes long, so it's not as much trouble to do that as you might think.
Yes, it would seem that there is no end to what Thrice can do. I can't even imagine what they'll come up with next. I'm waiting for Dustin to make a really awesome polka album. Given his track record, I think he can pull it off.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Hardcore ties gone forever?
Comment: Thrice was excellent as a hardcore band, now they are excellent in whatever genre they call this. I anticipated this cd to be quiet as volume 2 was quiet. But I thought they did an excellent job. The best songs are Broken Lungs, Moving Mountains, and Come All You Weary. Just a great listen if you are in the right mood. If you want to rock out listen to their old work and volume 1 of this series. I just wonder if their next cd will be like this or like the old Thrice that gave them their fan base.
Customer Rating:
Summary: New direction = New rewards
Comment: I already wrote a review for the previous album of this set, The Alchemy Index Vol. 1 & 2. I like this whole cd set up. I think its a cool idea and has some great songs. I have to say that Vol. 4 Earth is my favorite of the whole set. It has a kinda John Mayer Folk twang to it with a Thrice spin.... if that makes sense. If you like the older Illusion of Safety Thrice, then you might like this. If yo like the new Vhessiu Thrice, then you will like this. Its a couple great mellow cd's to just have playing in the background while you do your homework or for a hour long car ride. Then when you figure out which songs you like, you can throw that cd into your car and sing along while you drive to work.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Thrice - Alchemy Index, Vol. 3 & 4: Air and Earth 9/10
Comment: Thrice has always been a little bit different from their post-hardcore peers who were more interested in screaming about problems than doing anything about it: from their first album the band has donated a portion of proceeds to a charity of their choice. Musically and lyrically, they were generally more musically accomplished, mixing and matching time signatures and complex arrangements, and naming their last proper album after a Thomas Pynchon album.
Nevertheless, screamo is still screamo, but with Air and Earth, the second half of a four-volume project, Thrice has finally finished carving their own musical niche that the Water disc began. Air's strongest point, "A Song for Milly Michaelson" is a beautiful, acoustic love song that floats along almost ethereally, proof that singer/guitarist Dustin Kensrue's talents range far beyond typical tone-deaf yelping.
"Daedalus" is a six-minute epic that shows Thrice indulging their prog-rock tendencies, and "Silver Wings" sounds like Sigur Ros raised on a diet of `80s punk.
The Earth disc is a totally different experience: rather than a bone-crushing musical earthquake, Thrice emulates, of all things, The National-ish Americana folk. Simple instrumentally and lyrically, Earth redefines Thrice's abilities and prevents any attempt at labeling. From the bluesy guitar picking of "Moving Mountains" to Kensrue's soulful wail on "Come All You Weary" to the haunting piano on "The Lion and the Wolf," Thrice's reinvention is a stunning success.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Thrice's continued musical exploration is genius!
Comment: Having had the first two volumes of the Alchemy Index for several months now, I was anxious to see what these two would be like. I was pleasantly surprised as I expected.
Both Air and Earth continue to show a softer side of Thrice, and it's beautiful. Air is mellow rock while Earth is sort of folksy. Fans of Dustin Kensrue's solo album will find the music on the Earth disc very familiar.
Lyrically, Thrice continues to get better and better. The complexity and maturity in Dustin's lyrics are a huge part of what makes these discs great. Tracks that stand out are Daedalus, Digging My Own Grave, and Come All You Weary.
All in all, this is a great way to round out the Alchemy Index, although I can't help but wish they would have experimented with some heavier stuff as they did on the Fire disc. Even so, Thrice has never disappointed, and I can't wait for their next release!
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