The Thermals

A Portland, OR, supergroup of sorts, the Thermals feature Hutch Harris and Kathy Foster of the twee/folk-pop duo Hutch and Kathy and the All Girl Summer Fun Band, Kind of Like Spitting's Ben Barnett, and Operacycle's Jordan Hudson. The group started in early 2002 as a way for its members to play just for the fun of it, but their insistent melodies and punk-inspired urgency won them a local following quickly. Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard was one of the Thermals' first fans and got the group in touch with Sub Pop, who signed them within four months of the band's formation. The Thermals released a single in January of 2003, followed by their full-length, More Parts Per Million, later that spring. Fuckin A, the Thermals' sophomore effort, marked their first release for Sub Pop in mid-2004. In the midst of recording the Thermals' third full-length, founding drummer Jordan Hudson left the group. Foster and Harris resumed recording, and played all instruments on 2006's The Body, The Blood, The Machine. Drummer Caitlin Love joined the Thermals just in time for a European tour in spring 2006. Lorin Coleman, of the Portland indie rock act Virga, was added on drums in late summer.

The Thermals music style is similiar to those of the Hold Steady, whose new release is also about to come. With The Body, The Blood, The Machine, the Thermals have succeeded to create a decent, probably even better, follower to the excellent Fuckin A. It's certainly one of the best releases in this year. Highly Recommended!

The Thermals - A Pillar Of Salt (from The Body, The Blood, The Machine)
The Thermals - Stare Like Yours (from Fuckin A)
The Thermals - How We Know (from Fuckin A)
The Thermals - No Culture Icons (from More Parts Per Million)
The Thermals @ MySpace

Bonus:
Cat Power - You Are Free !!!
The Format - Interventions & Lullabies !!!
Ted Leo & The Farmacists - Shake The Sheets + Hearts Of Oak !!!
Snow Patrol - Eyes Open + Final Straw !!!
Mountain Goats - Zopilote Machine + Jack And Faye [EP] + We Shall All Be Healed + All Hail West Texas !!!
+ Dixie Chicks, Darrell Scott, Chris Thile, Sean Watkins, Mark Knopfler, William Shatner, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/goe5o
Boris - Pink
Thursday - A City By The Light Divided
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/jcvqr
Lucie Silvas - Breath In
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/l5azt
Alternative/Rock
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/hq2jj
Linkin Park - Albums
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/z7my3
Cog - The New Normal
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/kxxq5