Rule #1: Put Your Best Song First. Top marks to Thread for placing "Misfits" in pole position. It kicks in like R.E.M.'s "Finest Worksong" does on Document--complete with organ and heavily treated drums. Above all, it's supremely confident. However, most of the rest of this set plants itself squarely in the alt.rock or alt.christian.rock heartland of personal conflict, struggle, and general angst: "Complaint Rock," as Clueless termed it. That's not to say there aren't strong songs here: "Wings" rides a lilting acoustic guitar motif rather elegantly; "Alive" and "You Say" take the bus to the suburbs and camp out on Smashing Pumpkins' doorstep; "Missin' Part of Me" wears some lush strings, but loses points on the lyric sheet for confusing "phase" and "faze." Some of the rest of it is anonymous, though, standing shoulder to (burdened) shoulder with Counting Crows and Hootie and the Blowfish.
Thread (and so many other Washington state bands) appear glum and downtrodden, despite what they claim: "All of our lives have been forever changed by Jesus, and our desire is to be a voice to our generation proclaiming that He is the Giver of Life and Hope in a hopeless, searching world." (Nate Navarro, guitar, bv's). Maybe it's those cold winters that chill the heart and soul. Whatever, these five men could learn to reflect a little of the light they have and be an alt.alt.rock band.
In the meantime, if you like your music earnest and po-faced, this is right up your street. If you like to be entertained, maybe you should look elsewhere, or just buy the single of "Misfits."
3 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Eric DaamsI half expected Thread to be a heavy metal band. I was wrong. From the start, Wideawake demonstrates Thread's knack for making meaningful, well-played modern rock that draws influences from Jars of Clay and Smalltown Poets, both vocally and instrumentally. The album starts with "Misfits," which is also the first single. It immediately sets the stage for the rest of the record, with nice guitar…Similar sounding releases
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