The Thermals
The Body, The Blood, The Machine

THE REVIEW

If you're making a list of the best CDs of 2007, don't stray too far from here because what these three guys from Portland, Oregon have put out is a little masterpiece.

36 minutes and 36 seconds of dirty and rabid rock, with explosive melodies full of sarcasm and (why not) political awareness.

Surprised?

The short duration and carefree spirit would certainly suggest an empty record, but believe me, never have we been further from reality than in this case.

Here, they hypothesize "Orwellian" conspiracies, rebel against a Nazi-Christian dictatorship, and hide from a cynical and vengeful God:

from "Here's Your Future"

God reached his hand down from the sky
He flooded the land then he set it on fire
He said, "Fear me again. Know I'm your father.
Remember that no one can breathe underwater"

So bend your knees and bow your heads
Save your babies, here's your future
Yeah, here's your future

Is that enough to call them at least brave in this somewhat bigoted "teo-con" reactionary America? Take a look here:

from "Back to the Sea"

two by two
lord we’ll take em two by two
we’ll lead 'em to the bedroom floor
we’ll lead 'em in the dead of morning

two by two
lord we’ll take 'em two by two
we’ll lead 'em through the pouring rain
we’ll lead 'em to the gas chamber


"The Body, the Blood, the Machine" is certainly a daring work.

Daring more in its "literary" aspect than in its strictly musical one, where we find ourselves in familiar territory for anyone who has lived the American indie scene in recent years (call it "post-grunge", if you really want to give it a name). "Blood ties" further confirmed by the production of Brendan Canty, already the drummer of the never too praised Fugazi (someone who evidently knows a thing or two about scratchy melodies and corrosive lyrics) and by the label, the historic "Sub Pop".

The Thermals have talent but above all they have a lot to say, a truly rare commodity.

Highly recommended.