2003 was a long time ago: George Bush was still President of the United States, 50 Cent was still incredibly relevant, Lord of the Rings movies were still in theaters.  But something considerably less talked about happened in the summer of that year.  Thrice released their third full length album, The Artist in the Ambulance.

From the opening second of the first track “Cold Cash and Colder Hearts” there is no question what band is playing.  Frontman Dustin Kensrue is heard immediately and within a second the whole band kicks into fifth gear.  Unlike previous records where many songs just barreled through, “Cold Cash and Colder Hearts” fluctuates between ear splitting guitars and softer melodic sections.  “All That’s Left” is the first track leaves a lasting impression (its inclusion on Madden 2004 surely didn’t hurt).  A lean, aggressive riff opens the song, laying the groundwork for the rest of the song.  At just short of the one minute mark the chorus explodes into the listener’s ears with Dustin half-yelling “A ghost is all that’s left // Of everything we swore we never would forget.”  The lyrics serve as a painful reminder of the past.  

Fans of Thrice’s older material will love “Silhouette” as it launches a full-out assault on the listener.  Guitarist Teppei Teranishi provides a suitable backdrop for the pounding rhythm section provided by the brothers Breckenridge— Eddie on bass, Riley on drums.  While “Stare at the Sun” was not the first single from the record, it was without question one of the more popular ones.  A churning bass line propels the beginning of the song through the verses until Kensrue takes charge in the chorus.  “Cause I am due for a miracle // I’m waiting for a sign // I’ll stare straight into the sun // And I won’t close my eyes // Til I understand or go blind.

Three of the next four songs remind the listener of who Thrice was; “Paper Tigers”, “Hoods on Peregrine”, and “Blood Clots and Black Holes” all contain the brashness of early Thrice, yet there is a certain refinement to them that clearly came with age.  The third to last track is the title track.  “The Artist in the Ambulance” is a near perfect cut of melodic pop punk.  The guitars work in harmony with the bass and drums creating a wall of sound that comes close to overpowering the vocals but never quite gets there.  The song is a flawless example of everything pop punk should be.

Prior to the release of The Artist in the Ambulance, Thrice had been known as an outfit that crafted melodic punk music that often verged on hardcore.  This record, while not completely abandoning their old sound, marked a huge shift in Thrice’s sound.  The band takes huge steps forward on this record, which served as the springboard for the rest of their illustrious career.  While it certainly is not their best album, it may prove to be their most important.

***/*****

*This review was composed by Dan Beach