EastScene

“Something’s gone terribly wrong with everyone; all the world is mad.” I don’t think anyone could have said it better. Nowadays, many artists are the promotional item for the newest fashion or fad. For Thrice, they’ve never changed their look, sound, or stance on what they believe in. If a band should be looked up to as a role model, they should be looked up to for that reason. Writing an album for yourself and your band mates is a hard thing to do in recent times. Beggars is one of the most earnest and truthful albums written in recent year (or at least since The Alchemy Index was released). Their 6th studio album is filled with tracks with such imaginative and descriptive language the listener can’t help but feel the pain and passion resonating in front-man Dustin Kensrue’s voice.
I will be honest: at first listen only a few tracks caught my attention. The title-track “Beggars” is catchy and could be classified with their old hit track “Artist in the Ambulance”. “Circles” and “Wood and Wire” weren’t the songs to catch my ears at first. These were mellower than “All the World is Mad” and “At the Last”; they, however, do not lack the intensity needed to fit the tone of the album.
Despite the early leak, Thrice fans will not be disappointed in their new album. It is completely recommendable if you’ve liked their previous albums, and recommended if you’ve never listened to even a taste of their alternative-power. If you’ve streamed it, make sure you buy it when it’s released digitally on August 11th and packaged on September 15th, 2009.