Thirsty Chords - Red Eyes CD

Shirafu (2014)

Red Eyes is the 2nd full length album from  Thirsty Chords and it's their third release that I've written about since I became aware of the band.  I had first discovered them as their name had come up more than a few times while I was looking for some more information about the equally great band Bows.  They seem to be kindred spirits, and I'm really glad that the searching led me to Thirsty Chords.  Red Eyes, like their other releases, is simply fantastic.

Thirsty Chord's version of melodic punk rock often reminds me of fellow countrymen Minority Blues Band, although I find Thirsty Chords write poppier songs with bigger hooks.  Where I see the most similarities with Minority Blues Band is how Thirsty Chords' songs are bursting with energy to the point where it sometimes seems like the song may come unglued at any moment.  But Thirsty Chords never lose it, their chaos is controlled as the verses ball themselves up and let loose with super catchy choruses.

There are so many great melodic punk rock bands in Japan.  If you enjoy any of the bands I've written about like Gleam Garden, Short Straw Fate, Bows or anything on Waterslide or Snuffy Smile, I can't imagine you not digging Thirsty Chords just as much.  Red Eyes is just as great as anything those bands and labels have released.

Thirsty Chords - "Lenticular":
https://soundcloud.com/thirsty-chords/leticular

Thirsty Chords - Kioku No ED CD

Shirafu (2016)

I have three CDs by Thirsty Chords that I acquired last year.  I reviewed one of their full lengths a few months ago and I have another full length of theirs still in the review pile.  I figured I'd go with this seven song EP today.  With this EP, the band is two for two when it comes to putting out releases that I think are pretty great.

As a whole, I feel like this EP is a bit more melodic than the last full length of theirs that I wrote about.  Where their debut album was pretty fast and passionate in a way that reminded me a lot of Minority Blues Band, this time out Thirsty Chords have taken the tempo back a bit and with incredible results.  More than anything, I keep hearing echoes of recent Leatherface, but really only in the guitars.  Leatherface has a very distinct guitar sound with palm muted leads that blossom into frantic chord changes and Thirsty Chords have tapped into this sort of song structure.  It's particularly evident in the first two songs of the album, though the song titles for both are in Japanese so it's difficult to list them here.

That's not to say there aren't a few blasts of energy on this EP.  Both "Middle Class" and "Man Is Said" are full throated rippers with blazing guitar riffs and enough energy to power a small village.  Thirsty Chords is another one of those bands from Japan that I just can't figure out why it took me so long to hear about them.  I'm relieved I finally did as their records are pretty spectacular, but I wonder if there are other bands out there that I'm just not hearing about. 

Thirsty Chords - "エイトセンチメートルランニング":

https://soundcloud.com/thirsty-chords/ieawziiboamm

Thirsty Chords - I Continue I... CD

Shirafu (2009)

Sorry there wasn't a review yesterday.  I wasn't feeling well and needed to skip a day for some extra sleep.  Much better now though.  Thirsty Chords is one of these great Japanese punk rock bands that I somehow have been neglecting over the past few years.  To think, this record came out all the way back in 2009 and I've just heard of them this year.  Shame on me.  It was when I was looking up more information about the band Bows that I kept seeing Thirsty Chords mentioned and I figured I should probably check them out.

I Continue I... is the band's first album, but they've arrived fully formed and have put together the sort of debut that other bands would kill for.  Thirsty Chords are playing the sort of punchy and energetic punk rock that I expect to here from bands like Minority Blues band or others of that persuasion that would call Snuffy Smiles home.  The key for me are the strong, melodic vocals that have passion but don't dissolve into unnecessary screaming.

The guitar is fast paced and so dynamic it's hard to believe this is a three piece band.  Combine that with a drummer that's just killing his kit and piles of catchy hooks and you've got a band that's ticking all the boxes as far as what I'm looking for in punk rock.  Unfortunately, I can't find any of the songs from this album online, so you'll kind of have to take my word on how good it is.  If you go to YouTube and search for Thirsty Chords, it'll pull up some live footage.  I think that will be enough to show you what a great band this is.  And the album is even better than those live clips.