Featured Artist: The Thermals

 The Thermals

The Thermals formed in 2002 in Portland, Oregon by Hutch Harris on guitar and vocals, Kathy Foster on bass and Westin Glass on drums. They have added and subtracted members here and there and at the moment Harris and Foster recorded the latest album Now We Can See without a full-time drummer. In 2003 they released their outstanding debut album More Parts Per Million that displayed their raw post-punk sound. With fast uptempo bass lines, shattering guitar rifts, and simplistic drum lines they create an exciting and rhythmic tune. In 2004 the released their sophomore album Fuckin' A which was followed up in 2006 with their  breakthrough album The Body, The Blood, The Machine which blew some critics away. That includes me. It just straight rocked the shit. I was lucky enough to see these guys after The Body, The Blood, The Machine came out, and they were intense and loud and all kinds of badass. And Harris, the lead singer, was sick and he still screamed his high-powered, overloaded voice over the amps. I look forward to the new album and hopefully another live show.

Songs to check out:

-Returning to the Fold

-Here's Your Future

-At The Bottom of the Sea

-I Let It Go

Top 25 Albums Since 2000

These are the top 25 albums since 2000 so far.

25. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco (2002)

24. Return to Cookie Mountain by TV on the Radio (2006)

23. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips (2002)

22. Z by My Morning Jacket (2005)

21. In Rainbows by Radiohead (2007)

20. Bang Bang Rock & Roll by Art Brut (2005)

19. Everything All the Time by Band of Horses (2006)

18. Bitte Orca by The Dirty Projectors (2009)

17. Boxer by The National (2007)

16. Hail to the Thief by Radiohead (2003)

15. Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes (2008)

14. Stankonia by OutKast (2000)

13. Boys and Girls In America by The Hold Steady (2006)

12. Embryonic by The Flaming Lips (2009)

11. The Blueprint by Jay-Z (2004)

10. Silent Shout by The Knife (2005)

9. Agaetis Byrjun by Sigur Ros (2000)

8. Dear Science by TV on the Radio (2008)

7. Veckatimest by Grizzly Bear (2009)

6. Sound of Silver by LCD Soundsystem (2007)

5. Kid A by Radiohead (2000)

4. Turn On The Bright Lights by Interpol (2002)

3. Illinois by Sufjan Stevens (2005)

2. The Moon & Antarctica by Modest Mouse (2000)

1. Funeral by Arcade Fire (2004)