Thursday - Common Existence
by Kevin Wierzbicki
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If you buy this release in digital form and therefore don't have a chance to view the CD packaging you'll be missing part of the message that Thursday is trying to send. The cover graphic shows two people strolling down a non-descript city sidewalk with their backs facing the observer. They are dressed in full, body-cloaking white robes and headgear of some sort and unless you're expert in identifying specific garb worn by certain ethnic or perhaps religious groups you really have no idea who these people are or what they represent, and that is the idea. Are they Arab potentates? Nuns? A very quick glance might have you thinking they're KKK members or even a couple dressed as ghosties for Halloween. But put the visual together with the album's title, Common Existence, and some clarity emerges from the vagueness---don't judge people by their appearance. When it comes right down to it we're all pretty much the same. We live a common existence. Unfortunately if you take that same credo and put it in a musical context it backfires on the band. Eight years ago they were the saviors of post-punk; now Thursday is pretty much just another voice competing in a very overcrowded genre. The album's lead track, "Resuscitation of a Dead Man" rocks with sincerity and features a guest spot from Tim McIlrath of Rise Against but you might as well be listening to old Offspring and it's the same with set closer "You Were the Cancer." "Friends in the Armed Forces" shows a little Cure influence, no surprise since Thursday spent plenty of time on the road with that band. Other attempts to diversify the sound come during "As He Climbed the Dark Mountain" where there's an unexpected (and striking) slide guitar solo and during the experimental outing "Time's Arrow" where a "backward masking" effect is used. And of course there's some of what you'd call "good old Thursday" exemplified by the aggressive drumming that powers "Last Call" and the overall roar of "Unintended Long Term Effects." Make no mistake; Thursday is still very capable of running with the pack---just don't expect them to be the first across the finish line anymore.
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Thursday - Common Existence
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