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On The Record

Album reviews in 30 seconds or less.

By Bill Chenevert

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Sep. 14, 2010

The Thermals

Personal Life

(Kill Rock Stars)

Sounds Like: Portland’s Hutch and Kathy act is thriving in a gentler, simpler and lower-fi LP than 2009’s Now We Can See; still full of piss and vinegar, though.

Free Association: Not as many screaming anthems, but we’ve got other albums for those.

For Fans Of: Ramones x Death Cab, Fugazi, Modest Mouse, Stephen Malkmus.

Michael Franti & Spearhead

The Sound of Sunshine

(Capitol)

Sounds Like: The dread-headed, barefoot vegan poet’s seventh with Spearhead and his sun-kissed, peacenik, jammin’ ways are starting to be not so cool.

Free Association: Might sound like sunshine, but it smells like herb smoke and feet.

For Fans Of: Ben Harper x U2, Jack Johnson x Black Eyed Peas, drum circles.

White Noise Sound

White Noise Sound

(Alive)

Sounds Like: A Welsh sextet of knob twisters messing with synths, feedback and drone to make blissed-out electronic soundscapes that feel like a dream.

Free Association: Good thing the record’s better than this band name.

For Fans Of: Air x Velvet Underground, Spacemen 3, Super Furry Animals.

Cotton Jones