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The Thermals

MusicBlog

"Living, Breathing!"

Location: Portland

Website: http://www.thethermals.com/

Bio: The Thermals are a three piece post-pop-punk band from Portland, Oregon, currently the main exporter of indie rock in the United States. Formed in early ... (more) 2002, The Thermals signed to Sub Pop Records that fall, on the recommendation of Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie). They have since released three records on the label.

The Thermals debut LP, "More Parts Per Million", was conceived and recorded in the kitchenette of singer Hutch Harris's old house, a "love shack" of sorts, known as The Moss Motel, in Southeast Portland. The album was recorded on a 4-track cassette machine, with total recording costs around $10, no shit! "MPPM" was then mixed by Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla at The Hall Of Justice in Seattle, Washington. A blistering slice of no-fi, "MPPM" was dubbed everything from "un-listenable" to "very fucking listenable".

The Thermals returned to Seattle for their second LP, "Fuckin' A". They re-teamed with Walla, who manned all recording and mixing duties this time around, at Seattle's famed Avast studio. With a sound more in the mid- to some-fi area, "Fuckin' A" achieved the main goal The Thermals had in mind while creating it, which was to receive a parental warning sticker.

For their third and latest LP, "The Body, The Blood, The Machine", The Thermals hired Brendan Canty of Fugazi to produce their record. It was recorded at Supernatural Sound in Oregon City. With a wider and brighter sound than their first two LP's, The Thermals cemented their position as the true leaders of the pot-pop-punk (non-)movement. The album tells the story of a young couple who must flee a United States governed by fascist faux-Christians. "TBTBTM" was critically applauded and was featured in many Best-Of-2006 lists, including Pitchfork, Spin, NPR, and The Onion's A.V. Club.

The Thermals are well known for their joyously punishing live shows. They have toured the U.S. and Europe countless times, headlining as well as opening for Death Cab For Cutie, The Shins, The Buzzcocks, Modest Mouse, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Hold Steady, The Walkmen, Hot Hot Heat, Mates Of State, Mike Watt And The Secondmen, Quasi, Mudhoney, Cursive, and The Cribs. Shows of note include opening Sleater Kinney's final two performances at The Crystal Ballroom in Portland, and Guided By Voices' final shows in Portland and Seattle.

The Thermals' crowning achievement came in fall of 2005, when, reworking the pop-punk format, they discovered a fourth chord. It's F#minor, in case you were wondering. The Thermals have also made many contributions to rock "journalism", including the terms no-fi, some-fi, mid-fi, post-pop-punk, pre-post-punk, neo-grunge and s.e.d.i.f.y.(somebody else does it for you).

The Thermals are currently writing a new LP. "Stay Warm" is the working title.
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