The Thermals — Fuckin A

Recorded with Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla, the sophomore disc from Portland's The Thermals contains only one song over three minutes long. The power-pop trio's tunes exemplify everything that you'd expect to come with such brevity — they're fun, loose, somewhat snotty and immediately endearing. "How We Know" (the long song) is a bouncy, loud cross between Guided By Voices, Superchunk and semi-sneering punk rock.

Unfortunately, it's also the most memorable song on the disc, the other 12 tracks are mostly the same: charged-up, simple four-chord rock tunes with pleasant but plain vocal melodies from singer/guitarist Hutch Harris. But then, it's all over in 28 minutes, so even the most ADD-addled hipster won't really have a chance to get bored.

Get it from