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Rating: 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.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Here's Your Future (02:28)
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
God reached his hand down from the sky
God asked Noah if he wanted to die
He said "No sir
Oh, no, sir"
God said "Here's your future
It's gonna rain"
So we're packing our things
We're building a boat
We're gonna create the new master race
Cause we're so pure
Oh, Lord, we're so pure
So here's your future
God told his son, "It's time to come home
I promise you won't have to die all alone
I need you to pay for the sins I create"
His son said, "I will, but Dad . . . I'm afraid"
Yeah, so here's your future
Here's your future
Yeah, here's your future
So here's your future
So here's your future
So here's your future
02 I Might Need You to Kill (02:27)
Locusts, tornadoes
Crosses and Nazi Halos
They follow
They follow
Ashes and friends
Ass-backwards medicines
They follow
They know I might need you to lead
And part the sea so we can cross
If they follow us still
I might need you to kill
Every room and every human at will
They'll drown your disease
They'll pound you with the love of Jesus
They follow
They follow
They'll own your days
They're only God's babies
They follow
They know I might need you to hack
And cover the tracks so we can hide
If they cite us still
I might need you to kill
They can tell me what to read
They can tell me what to eat
They can feed me and send me the bill
But they tell me what to feel?!
I might need you to kill!
04 A Pillar of Salt (02:57)
We were born to sin
We were born to sin
We don't think we're special sir
We know everybody is
We've built too many walls
Yeah, we've built too many walls
And now we gotta run
A giant fist is out to crush us
We run in the dark
We run in the dark
We don't carry dead weight long
We send them along to heaven
I carry my baby
I carry my baby
Her eyes can barely see
Her mouth can barely breathe
I can see she's afraid
She could see the danger
We don't want to die or apologize
For our dirty God, our dirty bodies
Now, I stick to the ground
I stick to the ground
I won't look twice for the dead walls
I don't want a white pillar of salt
I carry my baby
I carry my baby
Her eyes can barely see
Her mouth can barely breathe
I can see she's afraid
That's why we're escaping
So we won't have to die, we won't have to deny
Our dirty God, our dirty bodies
05 Returning to the Fold (02:39)
I regret leaving my soul
I forgot I needed it to feel
Maybe when I die, I'll just grab it real quick
I'm coming right back
I regret leaving my mind
I forgot I needed it to think
And maybe to keep me alive
Can't believe I got so far with a head so empty
But I still have eyes
Wait for me, wait for me
But I still have feet
Wait for me, wait for me
I regret leaving at all
I forgot I needed God like a big brother
Maybe when I die, yeah, when I die
I will die escaping
I'll die returning to the fold
But I still have eyes
Wait for me, wait for me
But I still have feet
Wait for me, wait for me
But I still have faith, if I ever had faith
Wait for me, wait for me
09 Power Doesn't Run on Nothing (05:14)
We are just a child
We are just a child
We are wide awake
But our legs are shaky
We're unaware
We're hyper
And we stare into space
With grins on our faces
They'll give us what we're asking for
'Cause either way we're gonna take it
Our power doesn't run on nothing
We need the land your standing on
So let's go
Move it
We are old as hell
We are old to tell
The children when to kill
When to sit still
Everyone
Doing what we say
'Till our dying day
'Till our breath is empty
They'll give us what we're asking for
'Cause either way we're gonna take it
Our power doesn't run on nothing
We need the land your standing on
So let's go
Move it
Yeah, you need to let it go
Move it
Yeah, we're more equal
Now move your people off the planet
Cause goddamnit - we need the fuel
So let the beat roll over
The beat roll over
Everyone in line
One in line
Let the beat roll over
The beat roll over
Everyone in line
One at a time
They'll give us what we're asking for
'Cause God is with us
And our God's the richest
Our power doesn't run on nothing
It runs on blood
And blood is easy to attain
When you have no shame
When you have no shame
So let the sun fade
Let the sun fade
We'll still have light
We'll burn even brighter
We'll drain the well
Tunnel to hell
And leave the Earth's surface
For the worthless and dirt
Let the beat roll over
Let the beat roll over
Everyone in line
Everyone in line
You think we'll cease?
You see a reason?
You think it's fair?
Do you think it's fair?
Do you think we care?
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