The Thermals "How We Know" (17.0 MB) from Fuckin A High Noon Saloon Madison, WI April 28, 2009

The Thermals have had kind of a weird career progression, and I'm not sure anyone in the indie rock world really knows what to make of them. I heard their first record back in 2003 and thought it was OK, but really same-y -- two stand-out tracks and a bunch of indistinguishable mud. Then the next two got a lot of glowing attention (the third, in particular), and I didn't really hear much different on them. Their new one I think does sound different -- they went from Sub Pop to Kill Rock Stars, but the change actually sounds more like the reverse -- and is quite catchy, but hasn't gotten nearly as much attention from what I've seen.

Meanwhile, it turns out they have a surprisingly big and active fan base. This show was full of not just indie kids, but more then a few frat boys and aging scenesters. The response all night was pretty ecstatic -- to the new stuff, and to the somewhat older stuff, like this one.