The Thermals Unveil New Album

BY Alex HudsonPublished Jun 4, 2010

After winning a widespread following with their third album, 2006's The Body, the Blood, the Machine, Portland, OR-based punks the Thermals made fans wait almost three years for the follow-up, 2009's Now We Can See. This time around, the wait will be much shorter, as the Thermals will release their fifth album, Personal Life, on September 7 via Kill Rock Stars.

Like Now We Can See, the new album was produced by Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla. According to a press release, "Walla brought his signature brand of crisp, shiny pop production to Personal Life." Analog purists will be pleased to learn that the album was recorded and mixed entirely on tape and the vinyl was mastered from tape without a computer entering the process at any point.

The disc won't be too much of a departure from previous Thermals releases, promising "high-energy punk/power/pop." As you might expect from the title, Personal Life, the lyrical focus will be more introspective that the group's previous politically and religiously charged material.

Lead single "I Don't Believe You" will drop on August 10.

The Thermals currently have just six tour dates booked, three of which are at Calgary's Sled Island Festival. Scroll past the album tracklisting to see the dates. Expect more shows to be announced in the coming months.

Personal Life:

1. "I'm Gonna Change Your Life"
2. "I Don't Believe You"
3. "Never Listen to Me"
4. "Not Like Any Other Feeling"
5. "Power Lies"
6. "Only for You"
7. "Alone, a Fool"
8. "Your Love Is So Strong"
9. "A Reflection"
10. "You Changed My Life"

Tour dates:

7/1 Calgary, AB - Distillery - Sled Island Festival
7/2 Calgary, AB - Olympic Plaza - Sled Island Festival
7/3 Calgary, AB - Republik - Sled Island Festival
7/5 Chicago, IL - Jay Pritzker Pavillion - Millenium Park
9/6 Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot Festival
9/9 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom - Music Fest NW

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