More Parts Per Million

Blazing through 13 songs in less than half an hour, the Thermals introduce their bittersweet, rapid-fire indie rock on "More Parts Per Million." The high-strung guitars, lo-fi production, and earnest vocals on songs like "It's Trivia" and "Goddamn the Light" recall the heyday of mid-'90s indie; indeed, comparisons have already been made between the Thermals' lilting melodies and manic energy and that of Guided by Voices. But where GBV cloaks their feelings in cryptic lyrics and titles, with the Thermals it's all out in the open; it's as if they don't have the time to fool around with that kind of cleverness — it would just get in the way of their songs. This gives the Thermals an immediacy that their influences haven't had in years. With "More Parts Per Million," they've created a bracing, charming debut.