Recent release’s new direction leads to mixed results

Part of The Thermals’ draw has always been their ability to craft quick-paced, simple, energetic and infectious pop/punk/indie/rock songs. On the band’s latest album, Personal Life, things are different. With Personal Life, for instance, the lyrics fit with the title of the album. Although previous albums were filled with political or religious commentary, most of the lyrics on the album describe universal pains and struggles, particularly in relationships.

Another crucial, yet occasionally detrimental, change in the band’s sound is its energy level. The band’s earlier albums, such as its debut More Parts Per Million, consisted almost entirely of loud, short and fast lo-fi rock songs. Although some songs on Personal Life — such as the first single “I Don’t Believe You” ­— capture that energy, many of the songs on the album are slow-building, mid-tempo tracks. Granted, The Thermals have always experimented with slower songs, but the songs on Personal Life seem exceptionally lacking in energy.

“I’m Gonna Change Your Life,” the mid-tempo opener, sets the pace for the album with simple, building guitars and drums and straightforward lyrics such as I want to know your feelings / I want to know your shame / I want to know your secrets / I want to know your name. The song continues to build but ultimately fails to explode with the fast-paced energy the band is known for.

The next track and the album’s first single, “I Don’t Believe You,” is more reminiscent of the band’s earliest work, with its driving guitars, pounding drums and energetic “Oh-A-Oh” chants.

“Your Love is So Strong” is yet another more typical Thermals track. The guitars and bass are loud and distorted with plenty more of the band’s signature “Oh-A-Oh” singalongs included between brutally honest and emotional lyrics such as You’re all that I need / Your love is so strong.

The rest of the album, however, is much more subdued. Songs such as “Never Listen To Me” bring the album down, both in quality and energy. Like many of The Thermals’ other work, the song is simple and the lyrics are straightforward yet captivating. The quick-paced music and high energy that the band that initially made the band popular, however, are almost completely nonexistent.

One of the album’s best songs, though, is the similarly laid back and mid-tempo “Power Lies.” This time, vocalist Hutch Harris’ loud singing and touching lyrics stand out, as they do in other Thermals’ songs. Though a relatively slow track, Harris’ readily apparent emotion and pain greatly enhance the song as he yells lyrics such as How did I lose my past / How did I choose this path / Power lies / And takes back what you take in time. Without Harris’ unique voice and powerful lyrics, this song and many others on the album would sound dull and weak.

The album, however, also has its instrumental high points. “A Reflection” includes an unusually complex guitar riff that builds throughout the song before eventually decaying into a chaotic frenzy of feedback. The overpowering bass, dark acoustic guitars and occasional snare hits on “Alone, A Fool” also provide an interesting contrast to the rest of the album.

Although Personal Life begins with “I’m Gonna Change Your Life,” it ends, cleverly, with “You Changed My Life.” The songs between are simple yet powerful tracks that accurately describe life’s various obstacles. Despite the slower pace of Personal Life, the essence of The Thermals’ intriguing sound is still present. This style, which consists largely of emotional shouting over distorted, simple guitar riffs, doesn’t always work with the slower songs of the album, but Personal Life is still a good first step in a new direction for the band.