Call it Songs in the Key of Death. Written from a corpse’s perspective, these Portland, Oregon punks’ fourth album celebrates the joys of being young and alive: drinking, snogging, and writing three-chord odes to drinking and snogging. After ranting against Christian extremism on their last outing, they’re back to mindless fun, and with new drummer Westin Glass, they’ve resurrected the savage, speed-strummed fervor that once made Kill Rock Stars matter. When Hutch Harris shrieks, “You shoulda seen us in our prime!” he’s got the timing wrong: No doubt we’llsee them there soon.
Listen: The Thermals, “Now We Can See”(DOWNLOAD MP3)
Watch: The Thermals, “Now We Can See” (live acoustic at SXSW)
