Common Existence
Encyclopedia
Common Existence is the fifth full-length album from post-hardcore
band Thursday
. It was released on February 17, 2009 on Epitaph Records
. The band began recording at Dave Fridmann
's Tarbox Road Studios on August 11, 2008. The album was completed in November 2008.
In a March 2009 interview, Rickly explained the album's title refers to humanity's shared experience, and that many of the songs were influenced by the words of his favorite poets and authors.
.
The album includes the track "As He Climbed The Dark Mountain," which previously appeared on the band's split EP with Japanese hardcore band Envy
. The song "Last Call" originates from 2005 when five demos were leaked. While the first four were released on A City by the Light Divided
, "Last Call" had not been released up until now.
On December 9, 2008, the band released the first new track from the album, "Resuscitation of a Dead Man", on their MySpace
page. In early February, another new track, "Friends in the Armed Forces", was released for streaming on the band's MySpace page. In successive interviews with Spin.com and Rock Sound
, keyboard player Andrew Everding and vocalist Geoff Rickly
explained the track's significance:
A music video
was filmed for "Resuscitation of a Dead Man" which features various pyrotechnics
such as sparks falling around the band. Footage includes the band performing in a red room and urgent scenes of a man being rushed on a gurney. Later on, Thursday's amplifiers become engulfed in fire as well. In an interview on No. 1 Countdown
, band members stated that all pyrotechnics were indeed real and frequently singed their hair.
On September 15, 2009 Thursday with release a digital exclusive deluxe edition of Common Existence with five bonus tracks, the music video for "Resuscitation of a Dead Man" and a digital booklet.
Digital deluxe edition bonus tracks
Additional Musicians
Production
Art
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
band Thursday
Thursday (band)
Thursday were an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Formed in 1997, the group has released six full-length albums, their most recent being No Devolución, which was released in April 2011 on Epitaph Records...
. It was released on February 17, 2009 on Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
. The band began recording at Dave Fridmann
Dave Fridmann
Dave Fridmann is an American record producer and musician. From 1990 onwards he co-produced all releases by Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips...
's Tarbox Road Studios on August 11, 2008. The album was completed in November 2008.
Song information
The band explores many subjects, including marriage (”Last Call”), fatherhood (”As He Climbed the Dark Mountain”), and physical abuse (”Time’s Arrow”).In a March 2009 interview, Rickly explained the album's title refers to humanity's shared experience, and that many of the songs were influenced by the words of his favorite poets and authors.
.
The album includes the track "As He Climbed The Dark Mountain," which previously appeared on the band's split EP with Japanese hardcore band Envy
Envy (band)
Envy is a rock band from Japan. They are signed to Rock Action Records in Europe and Temporary Residence Limited in North America, though originally they worked with Level Plane Records. More recently in their career, Envy's music has grown to include elements of post-rock.Vocalist Tetsuya Fukagawa...
. The song "Last Call" originates from 2005 when five demos were leaked. While the first four were released on A City by the Light Divided
A City by the Light Divided
A City by the Light Divided is the fourth full-length album by Thursday, released by Island Records on May 2, 2006. It reached #20 on The Billboard 200.Vocalist Geoff Rickly comments on the album's intent:...
, "Last Call" had not been released up until now.
On December 9, 2008, the band released the first new track from the album, "Resuscitation of a Dead Man", on their MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page. In early February, another new track, "Friends in the Armed Forces", was released for streaming on the band's MySpace page. In successive interviews with Spin.com and Rock Sound
Rock Sound
Rock Sound is a British magazine which champions rock music. The magazine aims at being more "underground" and less commercial, whilst also giving coverage to more well known acts.-History:...
, keyboard player Andrew Everding and vocalist Geoff Rickly
Geoff Rickly
Geoffrey William Rickly Geoffrey William Rickly Geoffrey William Rickly (born March 8, 1979 is the lead singer and songwriter of Thursday, an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. They have released six studio albums. Rickly grew up in Dumont, New Jersey...
explained the track's significance:
"[The song] is about a personal experience that Geoff had with someone we know who's serving in the Iraq conflict. It can be forced down your throat to support someone who's fighting for a cause you don't believe in... We support you as people but we don't support your efforts." - Andrew Everding, Rock Sound interview
"I have a close friend in the service and several others that have finished their tours... The song was inspired by my conversations with them and by my conversations with their family members. It's about the shifting of perspective when it comes to wrong and right - ultimately, the song is a wish for peace and wellbeing for my friends." - Geoff Rickly, Spin.com interview
A music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was filmed for "Resuscitation of a Dead Man" which features various pyrotechnics
Pyrotechnics
Pyrotechnics is the science of using materials capable of undergoing self-contained and self-sustained exothermic chemical reactions for the production of heat, light, gas, smoke and/or sound...
such as sparks falling around the band. Footage includes the band performing in a red room and urgent scenes of a man being rushed on a gurney. Later on, Thursday's amplifiers become engulfed in fire as well. In an interview on No. 1 Countdown
No. 1 Countdown
No. 1 Countdown is a program originated by the American television network, Fuse. The show usually comes on one or two times per day. There are 10 or 11 videos per episode.No. 1 Countdown has three different types of episodes...
, band members stated that all pyrotechnics were indeed real and frequently singed their hair.
On September 15, 2009 Thursday with release a digital exclusive deluxe edition of Common Existence with five bonus tracks, the music video for "Resuscitation of a Dead Man" and a digital booklet.
Track listing
All music by Thursday. All lyrics by Geoff Rickly.- "Resuscitation of a Dead Man" – 3:21
- "Last Call" – 4:03
- "As He Climbed the Dark Mountain" – 3:01
- "Friends in the Armed Forces" – 4:10
- "Beyond the Visible Spectrum" – 3:59
- "Time's Arrow" – 4:13
- "Unintended Long Term Effects" – 2:18
- "Circuits of Fever" – 5:07
- "Subway Funeral" – 4:18
- "Love Has Led Us Astray" – 4:39
- "You Were the Cancer" – 5:49
Digital deluxe edition bonus tracks
- "Fake Nostalgia" – 3:22
- "Common Existence" – 3:53
- "The Worst Vow" – 3:14
- "Circuits of Fever (InnerpartysystemInnerPartySystemInnerpartysystem is an American electronic rock band. The group consists of Patrick Nissley, Jared Piccone and Kris Barman. The band is also well known for their live performance lighting largely by Andrew Nissley and videos directed by Stephen Penta....
remix)" – 4:12 - "Love Has Led Us Astray (original demo)" – 3:00
Personnel
Thursday- Geoff RicklyGeoff RicklyGeoffrey William Rickly Geoffrey William Rickly Geoffrey William Rickly (born March 8, 1979 is the lead singer and songwriter of Thursday, an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. They have released six studio albums. Rickly grew up in Dumont, New Jersey...
– vocals - Tom Keeley – guitar, vocals
- Steve Pedulla – guitar, vocals
- Tim Payne – bass guitar
- Tucker Rule – drums
- Andrew Everding – keyboards, synthesizers, vocals
Additional Musicians
- Tim McIlrathTim McIlrathTimothy "Tim" James McIlrath is an American punk rock musician. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder for the American punk rock band Rise Against. McIlrath is known to support animal rights and actively promotes PETA with his band...
– guest vocals on "Resuscitation of a Dead Man" - Walter SchreifelsWalter SchreifelsWalter Schreifels is a rock musician and producer from New York City.In the late 1980s, he played in many New York hardcore bands, most notably Youth Of Today and Gorilla Biscuits . After Gorilla Biscuits broke up, he formed the short lived Moondog...
– guest vocals on "Friends in the Armed Forces"
Production
- Produced, recorded, and mixed by Dave FridmannDave FridmannDave Fridmann is an American record producer and musician. From 1990 onwards he co-produced all releases by Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips...
- Engineered by Dave Fridmann, Andrew Everding, Joseph Pedulla and Karla Allen
- Mastered by Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone
Art
- Photography by Michael Brandt, Dennis Keeley and Mike Chapman
- Layout by Nick Pritchard