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The Thermals

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The Thermals
The Thermals final line-up (left to right): Westin Glass, Kathy Foster and Hutch Harris
The Thermals final line-up (left to right): Westin Glass, Kathy Foster and Hutch Harris
Background information
OriginPortland, Oregon, United States
GenresIndie rock, lo-fi, punk rock
Years active2002–2018
LabelsKill Rock Stars, Saddle Creek, Sub Pop
Past membersHutch Harris
Kathy Foster
Westin Glass
Jordan Hudson
Ben Barnett
Caitlin Love
Lorin Coleman
Joel Burrows
Websitewww.thethermals.com
The Thermals in 2009 at a rock festival in Germany

The Thermals were an American indie rock band based in Portland, Oregon, United States. The group was formed in 2002. With influences heavily rooted in both lofi, as well as standard rock, the band's songs were also known for their political and religious imagery.[1]

History

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In 2002 former bandmates Hutch Harris and Kathy Foster came together to form the Thermals, having previously worked together, most notably in the folk duo Hutch & Kathy. Their first album, More Parts per Million, was released in 2003 by Sub Pop Records. The album was recorded and performed entirely by Hutch Harris, who played every instrument. The first live lineup was Harris with Kathy Foster on bass, Jordan Hudson (also of M. Ward and The operacycle) on drums and Ben Barnett on guitar.[2]

Their follow-up album, 2004's Fuckin A, was mixed by Death Cab For Cutie member Chris Walla.[3] During that period Ben Barnett left the band and Hutch Harris took over the role as guitarist.

Their third album The Body, The Blood, The Machine was produced by Brendan Canty of Fugazi[4] and won the group much recognition and acclaim, appearing on multiple top album lists for 2006 such as NPR, The AV Club and Pitchfork.[5] The song "A Pillar of Salt" was also featured on EA's Skate 3 in-game radio. Jordan Hudson dropped out of the band during the recording of their third album. Kathy Foster took over percussion duties in the recording studio, which Lorin Coleman performed on tour.

The Thermals' fourth album Now We Can See, was released in 2009 on the label Kill Rock Stars and produced by John Congleton. Again, Foster worked as the percussionist on the album. Westin Glass joined the group as a drummer after the album had been completed.

The Thermals fifth album, Personal Life was released September 7, 2010.

The Thermals' cover of the song "Little Boxes" was used as the opening song for Weeds season 8 episode 8, "Five Miles From Yetzer Hara" which aired on August 19, 2012; their song "Here's Your Future" from The Body, The Blood, The Machine having been previously used in the second episode of the third season ("A Pool and his Money" August 20, 2007).

In October 2012, former guitarist Joel Burrows died from complications from a car accident.[6]

On January 31, 2013, The Thermals signed to Saddle Creek Records and planned to release their new album Desperate Ground on April 16, 2013.[7][8] In March 2013, The Thermals were named one of Fuse TV's 30 must-see artists at SXSW.[9]

On January 6, 2016, The Thermals announced the release of their seventh studio album titled We Disappear. It was released on March 25, 2016 via Saddle Creek records.[10]

On April 9, 2018, the band announced[11] that they were officially disbanding after 16 years.

Band members

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Final lineup

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  • Hutch Harris – vocals, guitar, keyboard (2002–2018)
  • Kathy Foster – bass, vocals (2002–2018)
  • Westin Glass – drums, vocals (2008–2018)

Former members

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  • Jordan Hudson – drums (2002–2005)
  • Ben Barnett – guitar (2002–2003)
  • Caitlin Love – drums (2006)
  • Lorin Coleman – drums (2007–2008)
  • Joel Burrows – guitar (2007)

Timeline

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Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[12]
US Heat
[13]
US Indie
[14]
More Parts per Million
  • Released: March 4, 2003
  • Label: Sub Pop
Fuckin A
  • Released: May 18, 2004
  • Label: Sub Pop
The Body, the Blood, the Machine
  • Released: August 22, 2006
  • Label: Sub Pop
Now We Can See 191 5 20
Personal Life
  • Released: September 7, 2010
  • Label: Kill Rock Stars
180 1 30
Desperate Ground 1 39
We Disappear
  • Released: March 25, 2016
  • Label: Saddle Creek
11 36
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released

EPs

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Title EP details
No Culture Icons
A Pillar of Salt
  • Released: June 19, 2007[16]
  • Label: Sub Pop
Desperate Ground Demos

Singles

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As lead artist

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
Sales

[18]
UK
Indie

[18]
"How We Know"[19] 2004 Fuckin A
"A Pillar of Salt"[20] 2007 34 The Body, the Blood, the Machine
"Returning to the Fold" 2008
"Now We Can See" 2009 Now We Can See
"We Were Sick"
"Canada" 2010 Non-album single
"I Don't Believe You" Personal Life
"Never Listen To Me" 84
"Not Like Any Other Feeling" 2011
"Born To Kill" 2013 Desperate Ground
"Hey You"[21] 2016 We Disappear
"My Heart Went Cold"
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Split singles

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Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Ballad of Big Nothing" / "Division Day" 2006 We Are Telephone To Elliott, from Portland
"When I Died" / "Cool Yourself You Are Flush Red"[22] 2009 Thao & The Get Down Stay Down Non-album singles
"Separate" / "So Hot Now" 2010 The Cribs

Live albums

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Year Title Label
2007 Insound Tour Support 2.0 Insound
2008 LIVE at the Echoplex - December 7, 2007 Kufala Recordings

Compilations

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Year Title Label
2003 The Wonder of the Underground Pressed On Plastic, Vol. 1 Meow Meow
2004 Sub Pop: Patient Zero Sub Pop
2006 To Elliott: From Portland Expunged Records
2006 Terminal Sales Vol. 2: This Delicious Sub Pop
2007 Bridging the Distance: a Portland, OR covers compilation Arena Rock Recording Co.

References

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  1. ^ "The Thermals Interview". Unfoldamsterdam.nl. Archived from the original on 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  2. ^ "More Parts Per Million". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  3. ^ "Fuckin A info". Subpop.com. Archived from the original on 2011-08-23. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  4. ^ "Thermals Interview". Pitchfork.com. 13 September 2006. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  5. ^ "Thermals Award info". Subpop.com. Archived from the original on 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  6. ^ Lannamann, Ned (2012-10-29). "Goodbye, Joel Burrows of the Minders and the Thermals | End Hits". Portlandmercury.com. Archived from the original on 2013-05-10. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  7. ^ Minsker, Evan (31 January 2013). "Thermals Detail New LP, Sign to Saddle Creek". Pitchfork. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  8. ^ Thomas, Fred (2013-04-15). "Desperate Ground - The Thermals : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  9. ^ "30 Must-See Acts at SXSW 2013 - Photos - South by Southwest - Festivals - Fuse". Fuse.tv. 2013-02-28. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  10. ^ Minsker, Evan (6 January 2016). "The Thermals Announce New Album We Disappear, Share "Hey You"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  11. ^ "The Thermals Twitter ನಲ್ಲಿ: "We are officially disbanding! After 15 years and 7 records, we feel our band has reached far beyond our initial expectations and goals, and are stepping away from it while we still cherish it."". 9 April 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-04-09. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  12. ^ "The Thermals - Billboard". Billboard.com.
  13. ^ "The Thermals - Billboard Heatseekers". Billboard.com.
  14. ^ "The Thermals - Billboard Independent". Billboard.com.
  15. ^ "No Culture Icons - EP by The Thermals on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  16. ^ "A Pillar of Salt 7" by The Thermals on Sub Pop Records". Sub Pop. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  17. ^ "Desperate Ground Demos - EP by The Thermals on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  18. ^ a b "Thermals Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  19. ^ "The Thermals "How We Know"". HIP Video Promo. 9 March 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  20. ^ "New Thermals Video – "Pillar Of Salt"". Stereogum. 6 September 2006. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  21. ^ "Hey You - Single by The Thermals on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  22. ^ "Thermals and Thao with the Get Down Stay Down plan plan split for Record Store Day". Punk News. 6 February 2009. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
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