Thursday

Thursday is arguably one of the most influential post-hardcore bands out there, having gained a cult following amongst music fans for their charged and powerful sound. Establishing themselves as an indie powerhouse throughout the 2000s, Thursday has truly marked their place in musical history with their unique take on genre-blurring highs and lows – consistently dynamic across all ten studio albums so far. This said, not everyone views them in such high regard; many have called out some of Thursday's album tracks for being too generic or safe to leave a strong impact on listeners. So what's something critic AND something good that can be said about this renowned rock band from New Jersey? Let's dive into it!

If you're a fan of post-hardcore and emo music, chances are that you've heard of Thursday. Hailing from New Jersey and fronted by the charismatic Geoff Rickly, this band broke onto the scene in the early 2000s and quickly made a name for themselves with their intense, emotive live performances and their genre-defying approach to songwriting. As someone who has been a fan of Thursday for over a decade, I've often found myself torn between praising them as one of the most influential bands of their era and acknowledging some of the valid criticisms that have been leveled against their music over the years. In this blog post, I'll be delving into both sides of the coin, discussing what Thursday has done right, and where they may have fallen short.

So, let's start with the good. One thing that I think Thursday has consistently excelled at in their music is creating a sense of urgency and intensity. Their songs are often charged with raw emotion, whether it's anger, sadness, or frustration, and they have a way of channeling those feelings into sweeping, anthemic choruses that can be cathartic to shout along to. Classic tracks like Understanding in a Car Crash or Cross Out the Eyes still hold up as powerful and visceral examples of what post-hardcore can do when it's firing on all cylinders.

Another aspect of Thursday's music that I appreciate is their willingness to experiment and push boundaries. They've never been content to simply churn out the same song over and over again, instead evolving and exploring different sounds and techniques with each new release. From the angular post-punk riffs of Full Collapse to the orchestral grandeur of A City by the Light Divided, they've always been unafraid to take risks and try new things. Even their most divisive album, Common Existence, is fascinating in how it blends elements of post-rock and shoegaze into their usual sonic palette.

That said, it's not hard to see where some of the criticisms of Thursday's music come from. One common complaint is that their lyrics can be overly vague or abstract, relying on generalizations and clichés rather than truly digging into the heart of a matter. This is a fair point to some extent; while I think that Rickly is an incredibly talented lyricist in terms of wordplay and phrasing, there are moments where his writing can feel disjointed or aimless. It's a fine line to walk between being poetic and being inscrutable, and not every song hits the mark in that regard.

Another critique that has been leveled at Thursday is that, at their worst, they can slip into being too formulaic or generic. There are songs in their discography that lean more heavily on post-hardcore tropes or radio-friendly hooks, and can feel like they're playing it safe rather than pushing boundaries. This isn't necessarily a huge problem - after all, many bands have tried and failed to create memorable hooks or choruses - but it can be disappointing when held up against the high bar that Thursday sets for themselves. When you know what they're capable of, it can be frustrating to hear songs that feel like they're shying away from what makes them truly great.

At the end of the day, I think that Thursday deserves a lot of credit for what they've accomplished as a band. They've been incredibly influential in shaping the sound of post-hardcore and emo music, and their legacy continues to be felt in the countless bands that have followed in their wake. But they're not a perfect band, and they've certainly had their missteps along the way. Ultimately, though, I think that even their weaker songs still have a sense of passion and energy that sets them apart from many of their peers. Whether you're a longtime fan or just discovering them for the first time, Thursday is a band worth revisiting and considering in all of its complexity.