Identity Crisis (Thrice album)

Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: June 6, 2000 | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=First Impressions1999The Illusion of Safety2002studioIdentity CrisisThrice - Identity Crisis cover.jpgThriceJune 6, 2000December 1999, March 2000For the Record, Orange, CaliforniaTemplate:Flatlist35:42GreenflagPaul Miner, Thricex|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} Identity Crisis is the debut studio album by American rock band Thrice, released on Greenflag Records on June 6, 2000. Following the release of their debut EP First Impressions and a brief break in touring, frontman Dustin Kensrue became an employee at Greene Records. Owner Andy Greene was interested in funding the band's debut album; sessions were held at For the Record in Orange, California with the band and Paul Miner as producers.

Identity Crisis received generally positive reviews from music critics, some of whom praised the album's mix of styles. After the album's release, the band gained manager Nick Bogardus and was put in contact with Louis Posen of Hopeless Records. He signed them to the Hopeless imprint Sub City Records. The label re-issued the album on March 6, 2001, when it was promoted with tours with Samiam and Midtown.

Background and recording

Vocalist Dustin Kensrue met guitarist Teppei Teranishi at school through mutual friends; they quickly formed a band with bassist Eddie Breckenridge, who Teranishi was friends with.Template:Sfn After a period of not having a drummer, Breckenridge suggested his brother Riley.Template:Sfn Thrice recorded their debut EP First Impressions at a warehouse; the songs that featured on had been written over three months.Template:Sfn Eddie Breckenridge was critical of its production, not aided by their producer opting to play video games instead of working.Template:Sfn Kensrue's father funded the CD pressing of it via a loan; copies were sold at early shows and to classmates.Template:Sfn The band took a four-month-long break before they decided to play shows again, supporting the likes of BoySetsFire, Death by Stereo, and the Ataris.Template:Sfn

Kensrue regularly visited the Tustin, California-based record store Greene Records, which was run by Andy Greene and Ron Martinez.Template:Sfn Martinez later learned that Kensrue was in a band that played a venue that Martinez would book shows at.Template:Sfn Kensrue eventually got a job at the store.Template:Sfn The band gave Greene a copy of First Impressions, he was dismissive of the release but the pair thought they had potential.Template:Sfn He said if the band could find someone to help make a better-sounding, full-length album, he would be willing to release it.Template:Sfn Identity Crisis was recorded and mixed at For the Record in Orange, California in December 1999 and March 2000. Death by Stereo bassist Paul Miner and the band acted as producers, with Miner also serving as the engineer; Charley Watts mastered the album at Mondophonix.<ref name=ICbooklet/>

Composition and lyrics

Musically, the sound of Identity Crisis has been described as hardcore punk and melodic hardcore, compared to acts such as Good Riddance and Lagwagon.<ref>Weingarten 2003, p. 39</ref><ref name=Oxreview/> Punk PlanetTemplate:'s Kyle Ryan said it recalled the work of the Movielife "in that it jumps back and forth between hardcore and melodic punk that's poppy".<ref>Ryan 2001, p. 130</ref> The staff at Impact Press said it was "heavy on harmonies and melody blended together perfectly to balance the hardcore aggression of the music".<ref name=IPreview/> Brian Manning of Punk Planet said it combined "Cali-style skate punk and screaming hardcore, with just a bit of metal edge thrown in".<ref name=PPreview>Manning 2000, p. 133</ref> In a retrospective piece for BrooklynVegan, writer Andrew Sacher said on Identity Crisis the band were creating a form of post-hardcore that took inspiration from "SoCal skate punk and Bay Area thrash".<ref name=BVretro>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In a 2004 interview, Eddie Breckenridge dismissed the album, saying that he "can't listen to that album and be excited about it" anymore, noting that Kensrue's "voice was a lot higher pitched".<ref name=PIinterview>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Kensrue is credited with writing all of the lyrics bar "In Your Hands" (which was written by Riley Breckenridge) and "Under Par" (which was co-written with their friend Ian Stift).<ref name=ICbooklet/> In an interview, Kensrue said "As the Ruin Falls" was a piece by C. S. Lewis that they added music to.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "A Torch to End All Torches" and "Under Par" deal with depression in youth.<ref name=MFinterview>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Release

Martinez said Nick Bogardus would often call the store, which he thought was a good opportunity to promote the upcoming Thrice album.Template:Sfn Bogardus took a copy to his office and heard it over the course of a few days, and eventually visited the store to meet Kensrue.Template:Sfn Bogardus told him that Greene and Martinez would be in Europe around the album's planned release, and told him that he would be willing to help the band.Template:Sfn Identity Crisis was released on Greenflag Records on June 6, 2000, with distribution being handled by No Idea, Revelation Records and Sound of California.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The label was purposely made for the band; it evolved out of Greene Records.Template:Sfn The album was limited to 1,000–2,000 copies.Template:Sfn During one show at the Chain Reaction club in California, it dawned on the band that Bogardus was taking on a managerial role, so they decided to formally ask him to be their manager.Template:Sfn

Through the local fanzine Skratch Magazine, the band were put in contact with Louis Posen from Hopeless Records, who was interested in licensing the album.Template:Sfn Thrice had a sense of familiarity with the label, as it was based an hour-and-a-half away from where the band was located.Template:Sfn The members of Thrice grew up listening to several acts on Hopeless Records, such as 88 Fingers Louie and Against All Authority. Template:Sfn Identity Crisis was subsequently re-released on March 6, 2001 by Sub City Records, a branch of Hopeless Records.<ref name=PNfirst/> Sub City's policy of donating a portion of each sale was one of the reasons the band signed with them.<ref name=AMPinterview>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A portion of the proceeds went to the charity Crittenton Services for Children and Families; they selected this one as it was local.<ref name=ICbooklet/><ref name=MFinterview/> That same month, the band embarked on their first full US tour with Samiam, and then a few shows with Midtown.<ref name=PNfirst>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Identity Crisis was pressed on vinyl for the first time by Animal Style Records in 2010 with a slightly different cover.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Reception

Template:Album ratings Identity Crisis was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics. The staff at Impact Press saw it as "really amazing stuff" as the "[r]apid-fire delivery, sing-a-long parts, swirling guitar work, chunky riffs, amazing tempo changes and infectious grooves push this album near the top of my current playlist".<ref name=IPreview>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Manning said there was a handful of "great vocal harmonies (when they're not screaming), which I'd like to hear more often".<ref name=PPreview/> Modern Fix writer Brian Greenaway said that Thrice "may be the only band I have ever heard of (save the Beatles, of course) where all four members lend their voices to the tracks, allowing for soaring melodies and anthem choruses that will keep this one spinning for a long, long time".<ref name=MFreview>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Scott Hefflon of Lollipop Magazine complimented the band for sticking to the album's title as they " flip-flops amidst hardcore roar (West Coast Revelation-style, not East Coast metalcore-style), melodic punkpop (though a little harder and with more, er, metal riffery), and, well, just plain fuckin’ metal".<ref name=LMreview>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ox-FanzineTemplate:'s Elmar Salmutter thought that despite the "diverse influences, there is no reason to sink into an identity crisis, on the contrary" as the "end result is extremely explosive and innovative".<ref name=Oxreview>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Sacher echoed a similar sentiment, stating that while he could "spend all day picking apart the various ingredients of Thrice's sound, [...] they showed off the ability to fuse them all into something that was wholly unique".<ref name=BVretro/> AllMusic reviewer Erik Hage said the blending was "not entirely convincing", especially as the "ordeal is anchored by oddly verbose, emo lyrics".<ref name=AMreview/>

Track listing

All lyrics written by Dustin Kensrue, except for "In Your Hands" (Riley Breckenridge) and "Under Par" (Ian Stift/Kensrue); all music composed by Thrice.<ref name=ICbooklet/> Template:Track list

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.<ref name=ICbooklet>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 Thrice

• Eddie Breckenridge – bass
• Riley Breckenridge – drums
• Dustin Kensrue – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Teppei Teranishi – lead guitar

Template:Col-2 Production and design

• Paul Miner – producer, engineer, mixing
• Thrice – producer
• Charley Watts – mastering
• Dustin Kensrue – layout
• Ian Stift – photos

References

Citations Template:Reflist

Sources Template:Refbegin

• Template:Cite journal
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• Template:Cite AV media
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External links

• Identity Crisis at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)