Band: The Thermals
Label: Kill Rockstars
Release: 2009

1. “When I Died” – 8.7
2. “We Were Sick” – 8.9
3. “I Let It Go” – 8.2
4. “Now We Can See” – 9.1
5. “At the Bottom of the Sea” – 8.5
6. “When We Were Alive” – 8.4
7. “I Called Out Your Name” – 8.1
8. “When I Was Afraid” – 8.3
9. “Liquid In, Liquid Out” – 7.1
10. “How We Fade” – 8.0
11. “You Dissolve” – 8.3

Comments: The Thermals is a band that I really really wanted to see when they came to the Middle East Downstairs on May 7th. I had to weigh my priorities…King Khan and the Shrines or The Thermals? I chose KK and the Shrines without much hesitation. My acquaintance with the The Thermals is from their song “Passing Feeling” featured on the video game MLB 2k7. Just a side note: the MLB 2k7 soundtrack was instrumental in forming my current day music tastes. In addition to The Thermals, other great songs came from the likes of Editors, Walkmen, Bishop Allen, Tapes N’ Tapes, The Stooges, and Death From Above 1979. Back to this album…it’s safe. Less post-punk than what I’ve heard in the past from them and more pop-punk. I’ve never had a problem with decent pop-punk and for the majority of the album, it is exactly that!  In the end I’m not sure if the change in sound has anything to do with their switch from Sub Pop to Kill Rock Star.

Grade: 8.3