Album of the Week

The Body, The Blood, The Machine by The Thermals


Now, I too think it may be a little strange to name a record that’s a little more than a year old as my first album of the week. Maybe I should’ve started something more classic, a la Loveless, or maybe something recently really great. However, this album is just too damn good.

Released in August 2006, The Body, The Blood, The Machine is The Thermals' third record. According to the band's website, "the album tells the story of a young couple who must flee a United States governed by fascist faux-Christians" and there are certainly numerous religious themes and references throughout the record (most notably are the references to Noah in the second song I’ve posted, "Here’s Your Future"). However, none of the content is preachy, none of it is offensive; Remember, the young couple is fleeing fascist faux-Christians.

The sound of The Thermals is certainly interesting. Their previous releases have been more much centered on punk rhetoric and instrumentation, and although those elements are definitely present, the songs on this album are catchy as hell and the all-out punk ethic is toned down. If you’re like me, or some of the other people I know who also love the record, many of these songs are heavily repeat-worthy and listening to the record is more fun than anything else.

However, that’s not to say that the album doesn’t have its flaws. Some of the slower material drags at times (although some of the slow tunes are great, the band is obviously better equipped to "rock out"), and the band’s sound isn’t painstakingly different from song to song, which could give off an air of repetition. Also, lead singer Hutch Harris’ voice is something unique, and perhaps not for everyone. It’s a little nasally, but after listening to a song or two, it’s clear that his voice fits the music and the message perfectly.

Posted below are four of my favourite tracks from the album. "Pillar of Salt" is hands down, the album’s best track. Its up-tempo, catchy and Harris’ vocals are tremendous. You might say it has the capacity to give one chills. "Here’s Your Future" is the toe-tapping record opener whose religious allusions are pretty obvious. "Test Pattern" is a song where the band decides to slow things down a bit and a song in which they do so with great success. Lastly, I’ve posted "St. Rosa and the Swallows," which, although not a slow burning song, isn’t as fast as "Pillar of Salt" or "Here’s Your Future." It’s an all-around solid song, again with a great, sing-a-long, catchy vocal track.

My final word on this record is that it’s infectious. Check it out if you haven’t before.