Know What I Deal!

Know what I feel!
The Thermals are one of my favorite bands, and I think giving a just-over-half of a decade retrospective look at their Sub>Pop release More Parts per Million. Now, in 2003, I don't remember much about this record. Of course, I was also twelve. I didn't hear about the thermals until I was about seventeen, and picked up a copy of The Body, The Blood, and The Machine (2006) by accident at my local library.

Regardless, after I found out about the Thermals, I soon found out that there was a lot I was missing. Though, I didn't know what I wanted out of music. I was naive. I wanted slick production, No-fi; No Way. I probably heard No-culture icons somewhere between then and when I was nineteen (now), though I sure as hell cannot remember it. I picked this record up, just because I'm a music hound, and now a big lo-fi/no-fi junkie (I guess I was then too, I just didn't look at it the way I do now.).

More Parts per Million kicks off slowly. An odd choice, if you would ask me, to start one of the most up-beat records in their stable with a song that is probably the slowest track. Well, whatever, it works, because I kept listening.

These are not the Thermals I knew. These are not the bold, angry and political Thermals of TBTBTM, yet an innocent power-pop/pop-punk band that cares about love, and relationships. The star track No-Culture Icons talks about an art scene of overbearing criticism and over-use, then takes a sharp left and turns into a love song by one last phrase "I can't fucking stop/ hinking about you." A love song. How quaint.

There is a pattern in this record, style be damned. Its warning against intellectualism corrupting thought. "Eyes so deep, you'll never see" is repeated on a few different tracks. Why?

Why not? Whats more damaging than taking this for what they may represent, opposed to what the defiantly do.

This record will make you move. It is powerful.
This record may make you weep. It is reflective.

All in all, after five years, this record is more socially relevant than it was in 2003. Now that the Thermals are almost in a "Joy Division" phase, I can look back through their catalog and appricate every minute of evolution.

Thermals, I can't fucking stop, thinking about you, or this record. More Parts per Million, you earn a 9/10.

If you disagree, comment. You wont.

Prove me wrong.