Rock and roll has been looking for a savior for some time. Fads, new waves and trends have been coming and going for years. Sure, a lot of good (even great) music has been put out, but it's been countered by bastardizations of the form. Has rock and roll ever had a savior? Is it better off without one? Is the journey to salvation more rewarding than actually obtaining it? Is the one who claims they are the savior really just the devil in disguise?
I can not offer you salvation, nor can I show you someone who can. I can, however, present to you The Thermals, one stepping stone on the path to rock salvation. Since 2003, they have been releasing pure and uncompromising rock and roll. They answer to no one. They are not idols; and as far as I can tell, they do not aspire to be. They claim they recorded their first album (from which the video below was the first single) for $10. I could try to explain The Thermals in more depth to you, but I won't. I'll let someone else do it. In 2007, shortly before he turned three years old, my son said (after hearing The Thermals) "This is rock music". That is all you need to know.
Enjoy The Thermals. They're putting out their fourth record soon.
Keep your ears open.
The Thermals – No Culture Icons (2003)
This article appears in Dec 3-9, 2008.