The Thermals
The Body, The Blood, The Machine
Release Date: Aug 22, 2006
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Record label: Sub Pop
Music Critic Score
How the Music Critic Score works
Buy The Body, The Blood, The Machine from Amazon
Album Review: The Body, The Blood, The Machine by The Thermals
Very Good, Based on 2 Critics
Based on rating 7/10
On The Body, the Blood, the Machine, the Thermals' third album, the band takes another step away from the inspired lo-fi racket of their debut, More Parts Per Million, and a giant leap further into politics. As they did on their previous album, Fuckin A, the band has streamlined their sound more and cleaned up the sonic mess that gave their debut such a dose of live wire electricity. Not that they've made a glossy pop record or any deal-breaking concessions to high fidelity; they just sound more professional and real.
Opinion: Very Good
Two years ago, Hutch Harris didn't consider the Thermals to be very punk. He described Portland's pride and joy as more of an indie pop outfit, even though their short, melodic outbursts sounded right at home next to classic cuts by the Clash and the Buzzcocks. The difference, I thought, had to be the lyrics, since there was hardly a finger's breadth of light between the Thermals two- and three-chord anthems and any number of late-'70s punk songs.
'The Body, The Blood, The Machine'
is available now