The Thermals - Fuckin A @ Score! Music Magazine

	The Thermals - Fuckin A
	Location	Portland, OR
	Initial Impression	Wonderful title, really, and some artwork with a cool combustive motif (well, they ARE The Thermals, after all) all on Sub Pop.
Notable Lyric	From the aptly-titled "God and Country": "Know I'm a man/Know where I stand in an affront to god and country/Pray for a new state/Pray for assassination/I can hope, see?/Even if I don't believe."
Factoid	The trio formed in 2002 and put out a full-length (More Parts Per Million) a year later, which with its intensely raw sound warranted the description of "no-fi" by the band themselves. Word on the street is they "snort tequila and smoke cold medicine." My kind of people.
Serve With	Hell, let's just go with the tequila and cold medicine.
Comments	Raucous, nervous, agitated, spastic, raw, and lest we not forget spirited, lo-fi indie/punk is found in abundance on Fuckin A. With its jangly guitars, upbeat tempos, tense vocals, and driving rhythm section, there's a real sense of immediacy inherent in The Thermals' solid compositions. There are some offerings, however, that are a bit more sedate, including "How We Know" and "Remember Today". Because frontman/bassist Hutch Harris' vocals have a kind of sung/spoken quality, they're reminiscent of that great Sonic Youth-er Lee Ranaldo. Some highlights include the conflicted-sounding, incessant "End to Begin"; "God and Country"; "A Stare Like Yours", with its stomping beat and pleading vocals; and "Every Stitch". Just overall a fun, energetic, and unforgettable record. Fuckin A!
URL	www.thethermals.com
Reviewer	Janelle (06/04)