Thursday’s sophomore full-length Full Collapse was a veritable phenomenon upon its 2001 release via Victory Records. A key influence on many bands that came after (especially My Chemical Romance and Senses Fail), Full Collapse also helped to put Victory Records on the map as a label that would have a key role in the next 10+ years of alternative music. Of course, much like Hawthorne Heights and some other bands on the label, their experiences with Victory weren’t all sunshine and roses. However, either way you slice it, this was an important record that set the tone for the post-hardcore and emo bands that would end up garnering a fanbase through MySpace (and other channels).
Of course, this success would mean little if the music wasn’t good, but it is. Vocalist Geoff Rickly provided a sharp, distinct set of vocals layered over pensive lyrics about everything from car crashes to the LGBT community, while the production (helmed by Sal Villanueva) helped drive already strong tracks like “Cross Out The Eyes” and the oft-overlooked “A Hole In The World” to the stratosphere. While the band’s later records deviated from the sound established on Full Collapse, it provided a nice starting foundation for Thursday, who weren’t a full-time touring act until around this point.
