A City by the Light Divided explained

A City by the Light Divided
Type:Album
Artist:Thursday
Cover:A City by the Light Divided.jpeg
Released:May 2, 2006
Recorded:October 2005 – February 2006
Studio:Tarbox Road Studios, Cassadaga, New York
Genre:Post-hardcore
Length:45:56
Label:Island
Producer:Dave Fridmann
Prev Title:War All the Time
Prev Year:2003
Next Title:Kill the House Lights
Next Year:2007

A City by the Light Divided is the fourth studio album by Thursday, released by Island Records on May 2, 2006.

Background

Following a number of issues regarding promotion and lack of communication with independent label Victory Records,[1] Thursday announced they had signed to major label Island Records in May 2002.[2] With the signing being made official in September,[3] the group began working on material for their third album in November.[4] Starting in January 2003,[5] recording sessions lasted six months.[6] War All the Time was released in September.[7] Following its release, keyboardist Andrew Everding, who had performed on the album, became a full-time member of the band. The group subsequently embarked on an exhaustive touring schedule[8] with performances in the UK, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.[9] As a result of this touring, personal problems between members began to occur,[8] but by July they were aiming to record in the next few months.[10]

Production

In September, early demos leaked,[10] and later that month the group started pre-production,[10] done with Tim Gilles. Recording took place at Tarbox Road Studios, in Cassadaga, New York with producer Dave Fridmann Amanda Tannen of Stellastarr and Mary Fridmann of Bass Piggy provided additional vocals on "We Will Overcome". In mid-February, recording was finished and the album was in the process of being mixed[10] by Fridmann. Tom Coyne mastered the album at Sterling sound, in New York City.

Release

On February 5, 2006, A City by the Light Divided was announced for release in May.[11] In mid-February, the group were working on ideas for a music video for "Counting 5-4-3-2-1" with production companies Refused TV and Artificial Army.[10] The song was made available for streaming on February 28.[12] From mid March to the beginning of April, the band went on the first leg of the Shirts for a Cure tour, with support from Minus the Bear, The Number Twelve Looks Like You, and We're All Broken.[13] On March 29, "At This Velocity" was made available for streaming via Alternative Press.[14] For most of April, the band went on the 2006 edition of the Taste of Chaos tour.[15] However, on April 13, Rickly became ill, resulting in the band dropping off the tour.[16] On April 18, A City by the Light Divided was made available for streaming via the band's Myspace profile,[17] and "Counting 5-4-3-2-1" was released to radio.[18]

From late April to late May, the band went on the second leg of the Shirts for a Cure tour, with support from Minus the Bear, mewithoutYou and We're All Broken.[13] A City by the Light Divided was released on May 2 through Island Records.[13] The UK version of the album, which was released through Hassle Records, included the bonus track "Even the Sand Is Made of Seashells".[19] In May and June, the group went on a UK tour.[10] In the summer, the band went on the 2006 edition of Warped Tour.[12] In October and November, the group went on the 2006 international edition of the Taste of Chaos tour, visiting New Zealand, Australia, and the UK.[20] In between dates on this tour, the band went on a co-headlining tour with Rise Against.[21] In January and February 2007, the band went on a tour of the U.S. with support from Fear Before the March of Flames, Murder by Death and Heavy Heavy Low Low.[22]

Reception

Critical response

The album so far has a score of 75 out of 100 from Metacritic based on "generally favorable reviews". AbsolutePunk gave it a score of 90% and said that " just like the Buffalo Bills, it’s not about how you start the game, but about how strong you can comeback and finish, and A City By The Light Divided exemplifies this very well."[23] Blender gave it a score of four stars out of five and called it "A widescreen goth-punk stunner." Billboard gave it a positive review and called it "A quality album." Some reviews are average or mixed: Uncut gave it three stars out of five and said, "A sprinkle of Flaming Lips fairy-dust may be just what the genre needs to slip its genre straitjacket." Melodic.net also gave it a score of three stars out of five and said it was "not a superb album but it's a helluva lot better than War All the Time."[24]

Commercial performance

It reached #20 on the Billboard 200.[25] A month after its release, the album had sold over 81,000 copies.[26] By July, it had sold 90,000 copies.[27] By April 2007, it had sold 132,000 copies.[28]

Track listing

All music by Thursday, all lyrics by Geoff Rickly.

Bonus tracks

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.[29] Thursday

Additional musicians

Production

Charts

Chart performance for A City by the Light Divided!Chart (2006)!Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[30] 63
UK Albums (OCC)112
US Billboard 20020

References

Citations

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thursday exposes Victory / officially announces Island signing!. Punknews.org. Aubin Paul. Heisel, Scott. May 22, 2002. February 5, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803215453/https://www.punknews.org/article/3601/thursday-exposes-victory-officially-announces-island-signing. August 3, 2017.
  2. Web site: Thursday to Island/Def Jam. https://web.archive.org/web/20080305070736/http://kludgemagazine.com/news_archive.php?year=2002&month=05. Kludge. May 29, 2002. March 5, 2008. February 4, 2018. dead.
  3. Web site: Thursday on Island Def Jam. https://web.archive.org/web/20080305063600/http://kludgemagazine.com/news_archive.php?year=2002&month=09. Kludge. September 9, 2002. March 5, 2008. February 4, 2018. dead.
  4. Web site: News. https://web.archive.org/web/20050307232654/http://www.fullcollapse.com/displaynews.asp?TimeStamp=C. Thursday. 2002. March 7, 2005. February 5, 2018. dead.
  5. Web site: Thursday in the Studio. https://web.archive.org/web/20080305064346/http://kludgemagazine.com/news_archive.php?year=2003&month=01. Kludge. January 29, 2003. March 5, 2008. February 4, 2018. dead.
  6. Thursday's 'War' Rages On Island. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. October 1, 2003. February 4, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20161031003740/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/68866/thursdays-war-rages-on-island. October 31, 2016.
  7. Web site: War All the Time - Thursday Release Info. AllMusic. All Media Network, LLC. Loftus, Johnny. February 6, 2018.
  8. Web site: Thursday Biography & History. AllMusic. All Media Network, LLC. Loftus, Johnny. February 4, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170624094202/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/thursday-mn0000592595/biography. June 24, 2017.
    • UK: Web site: Thursday tour October. https://web.archive.org/web/20031105194343/http://drownedinsound.com/articles/7673.html. Drowned in Sound. Silentway. Beth, Jo. August 1, 2003. November 5, 2003. February 5, 2018. dead.
    • Japan, New Zealand and Australia: Web site: Thursday Enlist Marine Combat Videographer For New Video. MTV. Viacom. Wiederhorn, Jon. January 15, 2004. February 4, 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180206001947/http://www.mtv.com/news/1484401/thursday-enlist-marine-combat-videographer-for-new-video/. February 6, 2018.
  10. Web site: News. https://web.archive.org/web/20060428052933/http://www6.thursday.net/thursdaystudio/news.php. Thursday. 2006. 2006-04-28. February 8, 2018. dead.
  11. Web site: New Thursday Album Out In May. Melodic. Roth, Kaj. February 5, 2006. January 30, 2018. January 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180131023143/http://melodic.net/?page=news&id=5436. dead.
  12. Web site: Thursday post first single off new album. Alternative Press. February 28, 2006. July 19, 2016.
  13. Web site: Thursday set album title, release date; tour w/Minus The Bear. Alternative Press. February 6, 2006. June 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160816204337/http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_424. August 16, 2016. dead.
  14. Web site: AP Exclusive: Thursday debut new song on AltPress.com!. Alternative Press. March 29, 2006. July 20, 2016.
  15. Web site: Taste Of Chaos confirms date-by-date band lineups. Alternative Press. January 13, 2006. June 26, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160816130257/http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_346. August 16, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
  16. Web site: Geoff Rickly falls ill; Thursday drop off Taste Of Chaos. Alternative Press. April 13, 2006. July 27, 2016.
  17. Web site: Thursday streaming new album; Geoff Rickly recovering. Alternative Press. April 18, 2006. July 27, 2016.
  18. Web site: FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock . Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated . October 30, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130921072932/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771 . September 21, 2013 .
  19. A City by the Light Divided. . 2006 . Sleeve . Hassle Records. HOFF014CD.
  20. Web site: Taking Back Sunday, Thursday, Underoath, Saosin on TOC Int'l. Alternative Press. June 26, 2006. July 29, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160821134249/http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_944. August 21, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
  21. Web site: More Rise Against/Thursday co-headlining dates announced. Alternative Press. July 27, 2006. July 31, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160821115224/http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_1059. August 21, 2016. dead.
  22. Web site: Thursday touring with Fear Before, Murder By Death in '07. https://web.archive.org/web/20160822202331/http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_1557. dead. August 22, 2016. Alternative Press. December 4, 2006. August 7, 2016.
  23. http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=131096 AbsolutePunk review
  24. http://www.melodic.net/?page=review&id=4466 Melodic.net review
  25. http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-city-by-the-light-divided-mw0000408533/awards A City by the Light Divided - Thursday : Awards : Allmusic
  26. Web site: Soundscan Results: Week Ending June 4th, 2006. absolutepunk.net. Kohli, Rohan . June 8, 2006. February 12, 2016.
  27. Billboard 2006, p. 28
  28. Web site: Thursday Parts Ways With Island. Melodic. Wippsson, Johan. April 3, 2007. January 30, 2018. January 30, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180130204546/http://melodic.net/?page=news&id=7714. dead.
  29. A City by the Light Divided. . 2006 . Booklet . Hassle Records. HOFF014CD.
  30. 280.

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