Review

by Johnny Loftus

While the number of youthful groups of men in form-fitting T-shirts performing pensive, often anguished post-hardcore music punctuated with arty lyrical references has become overgrown and/or ridiculous in the past few years, New Jersey's Thursday deserves props for putting all of its fragile eggs in a huge, well-appointed major-label basket. War All the Time, its Island debut, arrives grandiose , with moody, urban impressionist artwork and a thank-you list that lasts for miles. Helmed by longtime Thursday producer Sal Villanueva and mixed by Rumblefish, the album rocks on the dynamics between singing and screaming, between rage unleashed and thoughts cast inward. Lyrically, the band's earnestness is admirable. "In the spring, you will bloom, like her heart"; "We'll douse ourselves in gasoline and hang our bodies from the lampposts" -- coupled with musings on suicide and life's never-ending grind, vocalist Geoff Rickly and his mates are providing diary material for 10,000 lonely teenagers. But despite its righteous gospel, startling dynamic shifts, and hurtling minor-chord choruses, War inevitably begins to resemble one long, 40-minute song. Touches of programming, plenty of overdubs, and some piano do help to separate things, especially on the raw, dirge-like "This Song Brought to You By a Falling Bomb," a respectable brother to U2's "October." But an identically spiraling guitar line twists its way through both "Asleep in the Chapel" and "Steps Ascending," and despite his emotional delivery and obvious erudition, Rickly's bloodied-knuckle lyricisms start to run together over the endlessly crushing mid-tempos. The framework of the new, thinking man's hardcore movement that Thursday marches in is guided by the principles of its martial predecessor. Uniformity in style and the common themes of disaffection and social rebellion have always rallied the youth around the records. But as more and more groups climb out of the steadily glowing underground embers and bask in the glow of major-label fireworks, that signature sound is becoming dangerously homogenized. Credit Thursday with an album that doesn't dilute its lyrics or fervor. But in the quest for a new musical rebellion, the song is starting to remain the same.

Near Mint (NM): A nearly perfect record. There may be one or two small inaudible defects. The record should show no obvious signs of wear. A 45 RPM or EP sleeve should have no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other sights of slight handling. An LP jacket should have no creases, folds, seam splits or any other noticeable similar defect. No cut-out holes, either.

Near Mint Minus (NM-): A record that should play mint but has a few slight visible marks. The album will have as much luster as an NM, there just may be some superficial scuffs from the sleeve or very light hairlines that shouldn't be audible. An NM- album cover subjectively fits somewhere in between VG+ and NM.

Very Good Plus (VG+): A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some slight signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don t significantly affect play. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK. The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play. 45 Picture sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned-up corners, or a slight seam-split. An LP jacket may have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount.

Very Good (VG): Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song s intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as will light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound. Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, just two or three of them.

Good (G), Good Plus (G+): Good does not mean Bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play though without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear. A jacket or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the subject.

Poor (P), Fair (F): Below good. imperfections will be described.

Please check out my other items for sale.   (I offer shipping discounts)  I'll Be adding More Daily except for Friday and Saturday.

ALL SHIPPING PRICES ARE FINAL

 additional items  are 1.50 per item up to 6 within USA (if you are bidding on multiple items lots I have in one listing. you pay each shipping total added together)

Priorty shipping is available e-mail for total

NOTE: Gatefold Lps Count as 2 Lps when shipping out of the country

CANADA Multiple LP Shipping Rates  In USD

1 LP 7.75

2. Lps 9.25

3 Lps 12.50

4 Lps 15.50

5 Lps 16.50

6 Lps 18.00

Multiple Shipping Rates Rest Of The World Outside USA in USD

Note: Gatefold Lps Count as 2 Lps

1 LP 14.00

2 LP 17.00

3. Lps 22.50

4 Lps 25.25

5 Lps 28.00

6 Lps 33.00

7 Lps 39.00

8 LPs 42.00

9 Lps 45.00

10 Lps 48.00

11 Lps  51.00

12  Lps 54.00

The MAN has to get his cut so Texas residents must add 8.25 % Sales Tax

If you are unsure about shipping costs please do not hesitate to e-mail me.

QUESTIONS:? Please ask. That is what I am here for. (I may not get to them if you wait close to an item's ending.)

MORE PICTURES? Just ask and I'll send them to you

MEDIA MAIL: is not recommended for rare items. Priority mail is faster and safer.

I leave feedback after item arrives and it is left for me. (It's easier to keep up with that way) Please limit your feedback comments to things within the realm of my responsibility.

Thank you for reading all of this :-)