I love the band Thrice. They have been my favorite band for most of my life, and my brothers and I are always in deep suspense waiting for what they are going to do next. With each album comes a new sound, a new chance to experience the same Thrice feel with a different catalyst. The band's musicianship is reflective of this, as well as the fact that the members have aged and matured their sound. Their ability to play has evolved as well. From the punk, fast-guitar-riff-driven sound of The Illusion of Safety to the the more folk alternative route of The Alchemy Index: Earth and Air, both the sound and musical ability of this band has improved.

Thrice’s vocalist, Dustin Kensrue, who also has a successful and meaningful solo career of his own, doesn’t shy away from controversial and sometimes obscure themes in his lyrics. He writes about things like myths, christianity, and current events. However, one of the most recurring themes throughout all of this band's discography is that of humility. The act of looking at ourselves less and looking at the world more. Showing utmost humility involves seeing every human as our brethren and knowing that we are flawed individuals just like our neighbors.

The very first song that comes to mind is “Cold Cash and Colder Hearts” from the album The Artist In the Ambulance. The song begins with the sentence, “They are sick, they are poor, and they die by the thousands, and we look away. They are wolves at the door, and they're not gonna move us or get in our way,” which is followed by “Cause we don’t have the time, here at the top of the world.” This song analyzes the well-off, particularly the rich and their apparent blindness to the poor.

Another song that analyzes this in a more direct form is “Beggars” from the album of the same name. This song tackles the wealthy entrepreneurs and politicians of the world and explains how small we are by citing “If there is one thing I know in this life, we are beggars all.” Kensrue frames this by asking “does the thought haunt your head that you’re really rather small?” In the grand scheme of the world or, more appropriately, the universe, we are minute and have little or no effect on how the world is run. Of course, there is some truth as well as some debate behind this way of thinking, but it gets the point across.

One of the most intriguing and musically impressive songs that also tackles this theme is “Of Dust And Nations” from Vheissu. This song argues against our tendency to hoard all of our wealth and gifts, saying that, ultimately, they mean nothing. Kensrue discusses how “we stack our stones and bury what we can, but it all will be undone, and nothing built under the sun, will ever stand before the endless march of sand.” The sand in this song represents the passing of time and how, over time, everything will be overtaken by sand.

Thrice has a wealth of songs that deal with humility, greed, and pride. Each album usually has one or two songs at least that deal with this. Kensrue and Thrice argue that, as humans, it is our duty to help the less fortunate -- to care for and love the poor. They condemn how we all constantly brush their existence off and think of ourselves as more important. Underneath this, the band urges its listeners to take action to help and care for those need. As “The Artist in the Ambulance” states: “let’s lead and not follow.”