They’ve featured Jesus as cover art; they’ve appeared among giants on Pitchfork’s Top 50 list of 2006; and now, the Thermals return to heat up the end of summer with their latest album Personal Life.
Even after the first listen, fans will wake up humming tracks from Personal Life, but not because it’s pithy pop fodder. Even the subconscious mind craves the melodies of these anti-establishment rogues, and for good reason. The album delivers everything indie listeners crave: vocal teamwork, guitar lines moving so fast they barely skim the musical staff and, of course, a lot of feedback.
Lead singer Hutch Harris’ voice sets the emotional tone for each song. His voice ranges from sounding confrontational to light. In “Not Like Any Other Feeling,” Harris’ voice softens and clears providing variety for listeners. Harris’ vocals also play a large role in determining the intensity of each track. “Only For You” progresses in waves building with Harris’ repetition, “My love, my love, my love.” The Thermals best capture the ears of listeners when they sing in unison as in “I Don’t Believe You.” Kathy Foster’s airy voice compliments Harris’ perfectly.
Despite the skill of both Harris and Foster, this seasoned trio from Portland, Oregon isn’t afraid to abandon vocals in favor of pure instrumentals as in the first 40 seconds of the lead-off track. Both “Not Like Any Other Feeling” and “Never Listen to Me” also emphasize lengthy instrumental sections and guitar solos.
In addition to the Thermals’ renderings on guitar, bass, and drums, their latest album features an abundance of amp feedback, but as with most things, moderation is key. The feedback effect in “Your Love is Strong” and “I Don’t Believe You” help the Thermals to create a more powerful sound, but the words annoying and excessive best describe the nearly thirty seconds of feedback at the end of “A Reflection.”
When the Thermals do incorporate lyrics, they do so with a purpose. The lyrics “I’m gonna change your life” both begin and end the tune by the same name providing bookends for the musical nugget at the center. Working through the album, listeners may wonder if the Thermals wrote some of the lyrics while clouded by infidelity. Both “Your Love is So Strong” and “Never Listen to Me” reference infidelity and deceit, but the Thermals manage to package the angst so even spurned lovers will have no choice but to tap their toes.
Though the Thermals new sound lacks the raw edge of earlier albums, Personal Life does incorporate elements from previous work. Again, the Thermals manage to acknowledge weighty topics with flair. With the lyrics, “You only exist to be replaced,” the Thermals even comment on the purpose of human life. The choir of voices in “Your Love is So Strong” will also remind fans of the title track off their “Now We Can See” album.
The Thermals’ fifth album promises to radiate talent onto the fall indie scene. Despite Harris’ warning in the third track, “Never listen to me,” kindly disregard him. Personal Life deserves not one but multiple listens.
3.5 out of 5 stars
