Waiting (Thursday album)

Waiting is the debut studio album by American rock band Thursday. The album was produced by Sal Villanueva and released on Eyeball Records in 1999. The photography throughout the album's artwork, with the exception of live shots, was done by Tom Keeley's uncle, Dennis Keeley.

Waiting
Studio album by
Thursday
ReleasedNovember 1999 (1999-11)
RecordedSpring 1999
StudioBig Blue Meenie, Jersey City, New Jersey; Mother West Studios
GenrePost-hardcore,[1] alternative rock,[2] indie rock[2]
Length33:47
LabelEyeball
ProducerSal Villanueva
Thursday chronology
1999 Summer Tour EP
(1999)		 Waiting
(1999)		 Full Collapse
(2001)

This was the band's only album recorded with rhythm guitarist Bill Henderson, who would be replaced by Steve Pedulla in 2000.

Background

With the exception of "Introduction" and "Where the Circle Ends", Waiting was recorded at Big Blue Meenie studio[3] in Jersey City, New Jersey in spring 1999.[4] Sal Villanueva acted as producer for the sessions. Jason Kantor engineered the recordings, while Tim Gilles mastered them at Surgical Sound. "Introduction" and "Where the Circle Ends" were recorded by Charles Newman at Mother West Studios. The two tracks were mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music. A few additional musicians contributed to the recordings: Frank (guitar), Britta (violin), Mike (guitar input) and Kelly (live violinist).[3]

Songs

The song "Porcelain" is a tribute and call to action regarding suicide. Kevin, best friend to Geoff Rickly, had committed suicide soon after moving to San Francisco while suffering from Schizophrenia. At the time of his suicide, there wasn't a toll-free suicide hotline available in San Francisco that Kevin was aware of and he was unable to seek counseling at the time of his death. The song "Ian Curtis" was named after late lead singer of the UK group Joy Division. Another victim of suicide, Curtis hanged himself in his Macclesfield home in 1980. The song contains many Joy Division song references, most notably "Love Will Tear Us Apart".

The song "Dying in New Brunswick" was written by Geoff Rickly about his girlfriend who moved to New Brunswick and was raped while she was there. The lyrics are about how he hated the city for what happened and how he felt like he was dying whenever he was there.

Release

In July 1999, while on tour the group released 1999 Summer Tour EP, an EP that featured demos and unmastered songs that would feature on Waiting.[5] Waiting was released through Eyeball Records in November.[4] The cover was taken by Dennis Keeley.[3]

2015 reissue

To commemorate the 15th anniversary of Thursday's debut album Waiting, Geoff Rickly's label Collect Records released a remastered version of the album on March 24, 2015. The updated version features updated artwork and was released in a package containing the album on CD and 180 gram 12" LP with a bonus 7" containing demos of "This Side of Brightness" and "Dying in New Brunswick," in addition to the track "Mass as Shadows," which previously appeared on Thursday's 1999 tour EP. To promote the reissue, Collect Records released a lyric video for the track "Where the Circle Ends".[6][7][8]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Pitchfork (2015)6.5/10.0[1]
Punknews.org (2001)[10]
(2015)[11]
Sputnikmusic2/5[2]

Waiting has received mixed reviews from music critics. Amongst the positive reviews was Tom Forget from AllMusic, who wrote that "[Thursday] hadn't quite mastered the blend at this point in their careers, but they did get off to a great start."[9] Comparing that album the rest of the band's oeuvre, Ian Cohen at Pitchfork stated that "Waiting simply stands as Thursday’s most promising and earnest album."[1]

Other writers have been more critical of the album. In a summary of the review for Sputnikmusic, 'DaveyBoy' claimed that "Songwriting & musical potential is evident, but this debut is brought down by raw production and a short running time that contains too much filler, repetition & padding out."[2] In an initial review for Punk News, 'layawayplan' felt that "Some of the melodies seem ill-concieved, leaving me scratching my head, and a bit depressed. Lead singer Geoff doesn't seem to have fully developed the vocal talent he displays on Full Collapse. The amazing screamed backup vocals (the first thing about Thursday to catch my attention) are there, but again, aren't as good as they could be." However in a review for the 2015 expanded edition from the same website, that album received a much warmer reception with writer 'RENALDO69' stating that "Waiting will always be the starting point for a movement and revolution in my life. It's quite a ride to take in the more vulnerable and exposed tracks in the expanded edition, and one heck of a nostalgic trip!"

Track listing
  1. "Porcelain" – 4:40
  2. "This Side of Brightness" – 3:35
  3. "Ian Curtis" – 3:47
  4. "Introduction" – 1:58
  5. "Streaks in the Sky" – 4:30
  6. "In Transmission" – 3:41
  7. "Dying in New Brunswick" – 4:06
  8. "The Dotted Line" – 4:19
  9. "Where the Circle Ends" – 3:11

2015 reissue 7" vinyl/CD bonus tracks

  1. "This Side of Brightness" (demo) – 3:33
  2. "Dying in New Brunswick" (demo) – 3:56
  3. "Mass as Shadows" – 6:33

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.[3]

References
  1. Cohen, Ian (March 27, 2015). "Thursday: Waiting". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  2. Sputnikmusic review
  3. Waiting (Booklet). Thursday. Eyeball Records. 1999. EB015.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. "Thursday - Waiting". Bill Henderson. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  5. "Thursday - 1999 Summer Tour EP". Bill Henderson. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  6. Sharp, Tyler (February 18, 2015). "Thursday announce 'Waiting: The 15th Anniversary Edition'". Alternative Press. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  7. Biddulph, Andy (February 18, 2015). "This 'Waiting' Box Set Is A Thursday Fan's Dream Come True". Rock Sound. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  8. Adams, Gregory (February 16, 2015). "Thursday Celebrate 15th Anniversary of 'Waiting' with Expanded Vinyl Reissue". Exclaim!. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  9. Waiting at AllMusic
  10. Punknews.org (2001) review
  11. Punknews.org (2015) review
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