Album Review: Thrice, ‘Major/Minor’

Out 20 September
*****

The release of Major/Minor marks Thrice’s eighth record since they were founded in 1998. Whilst many bands have that one album that is considered to be their best, Thrice continually dish out the goods with every record they put out – their latest being no exception.

Following from their previous album Beggars, Major/Minor is like its predecessor in that it was conceived from the band simply jamming together in a room, resulting in similarly barebones, honest-to-goodness rock tone. The title originally stemmed from the practice of playing a major chord rather than the expected minor counterpart in a song’s progression. Utilised by many grunge bands in the ’90s, this technique lends itself to the album’s earthy, aggressive sound. The births and deaths of several family members during the writing process meant that Major/Minor eventually took on a double-meaning, referencing both the good and bad in life in some very poignant moments on the album.

Whilst the guitars are undisputedly at the forefront of the songs, the other instruments complement each other so well that they are all equally important in driving the music, which is often loud, occasionally soft and always melodic. But a Thrice album wouldn’t be a Thrice album without Dustin Kensrue’s beautiful lyrics, and for Major/Minor he has penned possibly his best songs yet. His genuine and enrapturing vocal delivery leaves one with the impression that what the man has to say, he says from the heart.

Thrice’s organic sound is the result of a band that has only ever made music for music’s sake, and nothing else. They may have had a tough time of it while making of this record, but despite this (or perhaps because of it), Major/Minor is their best one to date.