The Silver Thread - Strange Currents

​The Silver Thread

Strange Currents
self-released; 2016

​3.8 out of 5

By William Morrow

Sometimes I get albums that just sound a bit too close to what the band is inspired by. Although this can be viewed as a good thing (beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right?), sometimes the music itself comes across as a bit too familiar. But, analytically speaking, everyone sees the purpose of the medium of music differently— to some, it may be to release or create something unlike anything anyone has ever heard before, and to others it could be to put out a record that sits comfortably amongst its peers and predecessors. In The Silver Thread’s newest album, titled Strange Currents, listeners are presented with a very recognizable old-school indie rock collection of tunes that are both well-written and performed, however it is nothing exactly new or distinct. 

Strange Currents is certainly catchy— songs such as “Valentine on Fire” and “Whispering Wires” demonstrate the band’s ability to broadcast themselves in an enjoyable, friendly manner. Speaking generally, I think the songwriting on this album is both impressive and very mature. Because the band consists of just three people, two of which have been playing together for over fifteen years, the sound is very cohesive and comes across very naturally.

As far as instrumentation goes, the record is pretty bare bones. Consisting of a guitar, bass, drums and vocals, the sound itself is very accessible and not too complex. With this being said, there is not a time when the songs feel empty or deprived of anything. On the contrary, I think the band do a good job of filling out proper space in their music yet at the same time giving it room to breath and take in. 

As far as production, the album sounds really nice. Although I disagree with some of the effects used on the album, I think that may be more of a problem in recording than production. Each song presents itself very clearly and I think the solid production allows the listeners to enjoy each song to its full extent, and it provides a very honest, accurate approach to the music.

I think if The Silver Thread want to set themselves apart from the pack, they are going to need to emphasize escaping their comfort zones . With this being said, they can absolutely retain a lot of the elements that they utilize to their advantage (strong songwriting, catchy chord progressions, fun riffs, etc.). I just think their music might be stronger if they decide to look a bit further. As is, I do enjoy the sound of the band, however it is just a tad too comfortable for me at times. I look forward to hearing what The Silver Thread does in the future!

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