Thrice, "The Artist in the Ambulance" Grade: C+
"The Artist in the Ambulance," the band's newest offering, is their first major label release on Island Def Jam records.
While this usually signifies a sell-out to most music critic wannabes, it also means Thrice has polished its act enough to swing for the fences in the big league.
Unfortunately, the band's music doesn't hold a candle to some of the more recent mainstream newbies.
The White Stripes, Good Charlotte and The Hives have had better opening runs, and -- while Thrice's luck might change -- their exposure is based on a lackluster album.
Dustin Kensrue's lyrics are well-written and dig deep, but most listeners won't be able to tune into the philosophical frequency.
Unfortunately, the album's lyrics are incomprehensible -- singing and screaming often are synonymous.
In "The Melting Point of Wax," listeners will be put in the shoes of Icarus as he tries to push his limits against the sun and life.
The title track for "The Artist in the Ambulance" tells the tale of a regretful man who wishes to fulfill promises not kept.
Kensrue should regret that his singing is sub-standard, and his screaming is abysmal. Other than that, the music is decent.
The guitar work from Teppei Teranishi, though well performed, is uninspiring. Riley Breckenridge's drumwork also could use improvement and variety.
The overall feel of the album is somewhat washed out by attempts to make a hit. When songs blend together, it's hard to distinguish the brilliance -- or lack thereof -- in the lyrics.
The punk-influenced songs are played at high speed within a short time span, and the frenzied feel of the songs might account for the disappearance of song beginnings and endings.
Thrice should take notes from Good Charlotte when it comes to producing punk-influenced songs that are commercially viable. They have the right ideas and beats, but just cannot pull it all together into a truly digestible album.
Thrice should improve with time. After all, not many bands have had stellar starts.
People say the third time's the charm, but these guys need to keep swinging. They have potential, but "The Artist in the Ambulance" crashed into the bleachers high and right.
-- William O'Dell