Personal Life by The Thermals
LABEL: Kill Rock Stars 

It may be time for Chris Walla to give up his glorified day job as guitarist for Death Cab for Cutie and focus his energies full-time as super producer extraordinaire. The man deserves a big pat on the back for having a hand in two of 2010’s most promising releases, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin’s Let it Sway and The Thermals’ phenomenal new album, Personal Life. That said, it’s important to give credit where credit is due and naturally, Walla isn’t the only one to thank for a record that will surely round out the Best Of lists that matter this year. The Thermals, a trio from Portland, Oregon consisting of songwriting duo, Hutch Harris and Kathy Foster and relatively new addition, drummer Westin Glass, consistently prove they are one of the hardest working bands out there, releasing their third solid album in a four-year span.

“...the record focuses less on previous ‘heavy’ subject material (religion and politics) and instead is a reflection on love, loneliness and seeking solace in human connection.”

While The Thermals originally received a fair amount of flack for their gradual progression from the brash, quick and dirty lo-fi recordings (that comprise their debut LP, More Parts Per Million) to a more polished sound, the marked improvement in their musicianship that accompanies the new album’s higher production value is undeniable. Personal Life is the second album to come in the wake of their split with Sub Pop and picks up right where the momentum of 2009’s Now We Can See (from the Kill Rock Stars catalogue) leaves off—and with an abundance of Kathy Foster’s thumping bass.

As a special treat for all the whiny fans who miss the old, less refined Thermals, the album was recorded live-to-tape with no overdubs as an homage to their standout 2004 album, Fuckin’ A, another Chris Walla produced gem. However, what sets Personal Life apart from previous entries in The Thermals discography is the fact that the record focuses less on previous ‘heavy’ subject material (religion and politics) and instead is a reflection on love, loneliness and seeking solace in human connection. Harris even deviates from his typical Declaration of Independence style, pseudo-singing in favor of laying down some more tender vocal moments—see “Never Listen to Me”—one of the highlights of the album. The song sounds like it could be a dialogue between my passive-aggressive parents who will be celebrating their thirty-third wedding anniversary shortly after Personal Life drops this September.

Maybe this record won’t change your life (as the first song implies) but it serves to prove that The Thermals have staying power and should still command your respect as their sound continues to evolve for better or for worse. Coming in at just over the half hour mark, Personal Life is short, a bit sweet, and still packing that customary, in-yer-face Thermals wallop.


REVIEWED BY MICHELLE McGLYNN
MICHELLE’S FAVORITE TRACKS: “I Don’t Believe You” • “Never Listen To Me” • “Alone, A Fool”



FREE MP3: “I Don't Believe You” (right-click & save)