Thursday - Common Existence
Thursday have long since been a band who never really got the recognition they deserved, and the reception to their 2006 release of A City By The light Divided was one of either loving or loathing.
However, I’d say that those fans they lost on City will be won back from the opening beat of Common Existence, and then some.
Resuscitation Of A Dead Man does what it says on the tin really, well sort of; any fans that wandered off in 2006 will find their Thursday love reignited with this single; corny i know, but that's what you get when you listen to too much emo music from 9-5.
It's a great opener for the album and leads deliciously into the hectic Last Call which follows this battering opener. it might take a while for this song to get going but it still hits the right spot with the pounding chorus that makes my belly do a little flip!
The track makes me feel like I'm stranded in an orange dingy in the middle of the Ocean; super good in that i can just lay down and enjoy the movement of the music, but terrifying in that it flings me around wondering what the hell is going to happen next.
As He Climbed The Dark Mountain gives you a brief respite from the excitement of this delicious new album before you're treat to another four minutes of pure ear wax filling delight thanks to Friends In The Armed Forces which see's the boys go from Geoff Rickly's powerful vocals to smashing guitar blends with minimal effort.
I love the drums as i venture into Beyond The Visible Spectrum and then when Tom Keeley and Steve Pedulla's guitars smash into your ribcage, I think my ears are going to explode with pure musical joy! It's like when you get a present at Christmas and you know it's going to be one of your favourite cd's, but then you're mum has actually bought you every single CD you've ever dreamed of, all rolled into one.
The song is both gentle and forceful whilst not once losing any of it's amazing quality and as it trundles on I can feel my emotions changing like they've all be thrown in my washing machine and turned up high! No mum, I'm not on drugs.
Time's Arrow is a rather sultry acoustic offering which floats into your every vein yet sounds worrying like something Stereophonics might use on one of their albums. nevertheless though, a nice little break.
Unintended Long Term Effects might actually have some rather worrying effects on your ear drums if you do insist on repeatedly playing this at full volume as you leap around your bedroom pretending to be a guitar hero. The passion in Rickly’s voice, combined with well-placed growls looks set to make this track an instant favourite with 'team Thursday'.
Circuits Of Fever opens with yet another catchy drum solo that is pretty much their answer to the opening riff of Sweet Child O' Mine. Okay, so maybe they're not a Slash's level quite yet, but it's coming, just you wait!
Subway Funeral might not be everyone's ideal choice of passing, but it's still rather good, and if this is what happens when you die, hell, take me away! Well not hell please, I'd rather go to heaven if I'm given the option.
Love Has Led Us Astray is a great, chilled-out preamble to the closing track You Were The Cancer which, it has to be said, is without a doubt the best rack on the album.
At just short of six minutes, it has everything that a Thursday song could want from their favourite band, a haunting opening intro that makes me feel like I'm being beamed up by aliens.
You know you're going to be in for a treat as Geoff's haunting vocals being droning on until the drums and guitars build up alongside him into a chilling bridge and almost orgasmic chorus.
This track is possibly what this album is all about; i like that they saved the best for last, but at the same time, had they opened with this, it would be a huge f**k you in the faces of their past critics.
One this is damned sure, the boy's in Thursday will be on your stereo every day of the week come March 2009.
Rating: 5/5
Skip To: You Were The Cancer - with a barrage of guitar hooks, drums and passionate screams; this is a cut about the rest.
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison
Common Existence Tracklisting:
1. Resuscitation of a Dead Man
2. Last Call
3. As He Climbed The Dark Mountain
4. Friends In the Armed Forces
5. Beyond the Visible Spectrum
6. Time’s Arrow
7. Unintended Long Term Effects
8. Circuits of Fever
9. Subway Funeral
10. Love Has Led Us Astray
11. You Were The Cancer