The Thermals - Fuckin A
Whatever genre the Thermals are in, they are important to it. Fuckin A is less than a half hour of catchy, pounding rock that can’t be ignored.
The city of Portland, Oregon isn’t known for much. There is nothing that is remarkable about the city. No specific reason you would ever need to go to Portland. The city itself looks more like a town with a couple of skyscrapers wedged in it. There isn’t a memorable landmark like the Space Needle or a well-known museum like the Guggenheim. Noted musicians are scarce as well. There was of course Everclear, who are now MIA, and no one has stepped up to fill the void left. Portland, Oregon needs something to put them on the map. It needs a little something to be proud of.
Here steps in The Thermals, a band who makes the entire northwest proud. The Thermals formed in 2002 in the desolate outskirts of Portland and later that same year they signed with Sub Pop and in March of 2003, they released their first LP, More Parts Per Million. May 2004 brought their latest release, Fuckin A. That’s right; the band had enough audacity to use profanity in the title. That takes some serious guts; a statement that rings true in all sorts of ways with the Thermals.
First of all the Thermals have the pluck to write and record a record that is under half an hour in length. Lucky for them, this time crunch works to their benefit. If you have ever had a day where your attention span is zero, and no matter what you do you can’t sit still. Forget finding a song that will hold your attention for longer than thirty seconds, because it’s not going to happen. This record is like the soundtrack for A.D.D. America. The songs speed on so fast there is just no possible way anyone could get bored. The longest song clocks in at 3:18, and it’s so good the time just glides on by.
Secondly, the Thermals have the fortitude to write a catchy record. Some rock bands feel that in order to have “cred” they must write music that is boring with lyrics that are so intellectual, they make little sense to anyone, including the writer. The beats will dare you not to move, and the choruses of every song will dare you not to sing along. It’s a battle that the listener can’t seem to win. “How We Know” is a great example of this phenomenon. “You spill water like love and I will take it” will be the line that penetrates itself into your brain. The drum beat on this song alone will stick in your head for hours. If the Neptunes discover this song they will be implanting the beat in the next Nelly song.
Thirdly, the Thermals have managed to mix themselves into a blender of musical influences. It’s hard to pinpoint a genre to place the Thermals in. Sure their latest release could be considered a throwback to a classic punk rock sound, or to others a part of the flooded garage rock genre led by the Strokes. It really isn’t fair to place them in one category. “Let Your Earth Quake Baby” sounds like it could have been the hidden track on Franz Ferdinand’s record. While other songs like “A Stare LikeYours” boast a more aggressive rock quality. Songs like “End to Begin” sit somewhere in the middle of dance rock and aggressive punk.
Whatever genre the Thermals are in, they are important to it. Fuckin A is less than a half hour of catchy, pounding rock that can’t be ignored. Whether your attention span is strong or nonexistent it is thirty minutes well spent. It only takes a few minutes for Portland, Oregon to have something to boast about. The city might have a lack of skyscrapers and a lack of landmarks, but thankfully, they have the Thermals.
(Sub Pop Records)