Post what-core? (Full Collapse - Thursday)

Member Name: edinburgher

Product:	Full Collapse - Thursday
Date:	18/06/09 (52 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Angry and intelligent album from modern punk stalwarts Thursday

Disadvantages: Loses direction on occasion

While critical acclaim for 'Full Collapse' was surprisingly muted, for me it stands out as a triumph of post hardcore music. The angsty, almost petulant strains of the lead singer bleed into some very clever melodic sections, some interesting lyrics and some inspired yelling that seems years ahead of its time considering the modern obsession with all things 'screamo'. For those of you who might not be fans of post hardcore, the Wikipedia section on the genre is fairly thorough and bears reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-hardcore

It's a good genre for those of us who like their rock stars angry but don't want to wear makeup, go to a rave or feel comfortable in baggy trousers. Thursday offer a range of well written songs that, while incredibly bleak, have a certain beauty about them. Occasionally the lyrics become overly introspective, but it's certainly a great record to listen to when you're down in the dumps.

*Personnel and (lack of) acclaim!*

Sadly for the group, this record languished in the US charts when it was first released (#178), but the energy displayed and the passion that burns through in the tracks was converted quite successfully into a cult following and better sales for future records by the group.
Thankfully not one of those groups who change members every five minutes, the following can be heard rocking out on the record:

Geoff Rickley (lead vocals)
Tom Keeley (guitars and vocals)
Steve Pedulla (guitars and vocals)
Tim Payne (bass)
Tucker Rule (drums - I can only hope this is his real name, very rock and roll!)

*Availability*

This one can be fairly tricky to track down (my poor elder brother bought it a week before my birthday and it didn't arrive 'til a fortnight after it!) As of 17/06/2009, it can be found at:

www.amazon.co.uk (£9.98) (free delivery)
www.play.com (£9.99) (free delivery)
www.cduniverse.com ($11.08 - a good price, but beware postage charges as these can vary from the US)

Alternatively, your local branch of HMV will no doubt be able to place an order for a copy for you if you can afford to wait.

*Highlights*

'Understanding in a Car Crash' - A cracking song about routine, escaping from our mistakes and moving on with life. A lot of the lyrics seem to deal with the singer's inability to get over an unspecified mistake and to burst free from the chains of regret. All this and more, tied in to a neat metaphor about a car crash :D

'Autobiography of a Nation' - A measured, repetitive guitar track opens this song and offers favourable comparison to bands such as At The Drive In. The track quickly moves on from this into an all out roaring, yelling assault on conformity, lies and the crass commercialism of a modern America which has raped the land and destroyed the (native) customs of those who went before the settlers. The lines: 'We erased all their images and dance and replaced them with borders and flags' is a stirring reminder of the fact that 'progress' isn't necessarily always the best option and is as good a call against colonialism as any.

'Paris in Flames' - Possibly the standout track on this album, this song blends sections of oddly abstract lyrics with choruses that seem to make more sense, but don't quite explain themselves. Despite this, the sense of powerlessness and futility present in the song make the anger of the vocals particularly poignant. The meaning of this song has been hotly contested by fans of the band, with one suggestion being that it's about standing up for your rights and individuality. Others have gone further and suggested that it's related to the Stonewall riots, in which the patrons of a drag bar in the US refused to take violence and oppression from a government that actively opposed homosexuality lying down:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_riots

Strong stuff!

*More thoughtful than the norm...*

The strong instrumental support and original and often inspirational lyrics on this fairly experimental album add to the sheer fun of yelling along with top-notch choruses and the general leaping around that accompanies listening to 'Full Collapse'. In addition to this, the group aren't afraid to attack the sacred cows of convention and seem to make inroads into exploring the dark underbelly of life in the United States, from frontier times to the early 21st century. It gets four stars from me, as the slightly fragmented nature of the musical style on display here can be frustrating.

Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but an exhilarating and stirring 40 minutes.

Summary: Great album for fans of post hardcore music, or anyone who likes to jump around their sitting room!