Tag Archives: The Thermals

CD Review, Entertainment, Music

CD Review: Personal Life [2010]

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Band: The Thermals
Release: 9/2010
Label: Kill Rock Stars

1. “I’m Gonna Change Your Life” – B+
2. “I Don’t Believe You” – A
3. “Never Listen To Me” – A-
4. “Not Like Any Feeling” – B+
5. “Power Lies” – B+
6. “Only For You” – A-
7. “Alone, A Fool” – B
8. “Your Love Is Strong” – B+
9. “A Reflection” – B+
10. “You Changed My Life” – B+

Comments: The Thermals, how am I so divided on thee, I do not know. You guys are catchy and stuff, although vocally a little annoying. Sorry. I said this about your last album, too. You sound good, don’t me wrong. “I Don’t Believe You” is an amazing track. It’s their best since “A Pillar of Salt,” maybe because it works so much like that one. What is admirable about The Thermals is that they work against the grain of traditional “pop-punk” or revivalist “post-punk.” The instrumentation is superb — you can kind of tell these guys have “had it” since they’ve formed. This saves them on the songs that aren’t of “A Pillar” or “I Don’t Believe You” substance. When all is said and done, I think this is a really positive step forward for The Thermals. It’s a better record than Now We Can See.

Grade: B+ (88)

Entertainment, Lists, Music

Most Disappointing LPs of 2009

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No order.

1. The Thermals – Now We Can See – Before listening to this, I was exposed to just a few Thermals songs. That said, I’ve held this band in high regard. This LP was rather disappointing mainly because it was filled to the brim with pop-punk songs that weren’t eccentric enough for me.

2. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest – For me, a lot of what made Grizzly Bear “epic” was nowhere to be found on here. Okay, there are a few songs that I really dig from this LP, but in general I’d say Grizzly Bear changed their direction to a more prim and proper baroque-pop style with less experimental flair than ever before.

3. Lovely Feathers – Fantasy of the Lot – Hind Hind Legs (2006) was an amazing disc. So amazing that I don’t think Lovely Feathers could ever out do it, even if they tried really really hard. This LP has some really strong points, but it kind of has a weird pace that’s all over the place. I just thought Hind had an immaculate flow. This really doesn’t.

4. Flaming Lips – Embryonic – Considering I’ve only listened to the “hits” from these guys, I sort of had a gut feeling that this album would be filled with catchy songs! Was I ever more disappointed? Save maybe one or two songs, this wasn’t memorable for me at all. It was mainly sound.

5. Japandroids – Post-Nothing – This thing is shockingly similar to Now We Can See. I’d say it’s straight up noise rock with a strong pop-punk undertone. Based on the initial reception of this album, I was excited! Then I actually listened to it and was mildly disappointed.

Music

CD Review: Now We Can See

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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