You said in an interview earlier this year that when you “have a really, clean hi-fi recording it still sounds lo-fi”. ‘Personal Life’ sounds very polished with high production values, do you still see it as a lo-fi record?
I think our newer records sound hi-fi until you listen to what's being played on the radio these days. But that has more to do with what people think "hi-fi” means. We tend to think of hi-fi meaning wide and shiny and expensive, but really "-fi" refers to fidelity - as in how faithful is a recording to the original sounds. In that sense, most recordings are very lo-fi, or unfaithful. Naughty little shits.
What does the spirit of lo-fi represent to you?
The spirit of lo-fi is using only a tin can and a ball point pen to make a record. In other words: KEEPING IT REAL.
What led you to make such an open, emotionally driven record?
Every record we've made is open and emotion-driven. This is the way we write songs.
What makes an album a success in the eyes of The Thermals? Is it whether you’re happy with it, the reception it gets from the fans, good reviews from critics or sales?
If we are happy with what we've done then we definitely consider that a success. Good reviews from critics are frequent and we welcome them. Are we still trying to sell records? Don't we just give them away for free on the internet? Oh, we do sell them still? Cool!
Do you think ‘The Body, The Blood, The Machine’ gave you a reputation as overtly political? If so, is that a label you’re comfortable with?
Like most media whores, we'll take any reputation as long as it means people have heard about us. ‘The Body, The Blood, The Machine’ is like an Oliver Stone movie. There may be a political message, but the priority is trashy entertainment.
Now you’re better known, do you miss the days of being in a garage band and recording on four-tracks?
The garage and four-track are both there waiting for us, like old friends just waiting for us to be washed up losers.
How would you describe the sound of The Thermals to someone who hadn’t heard you before?
I would get right in their face and shout one of our songs at them for as long as they could take it.
There was only 15 months or so between the release of your last two albums, is there already another Thermals record in the pipeline?
We are in pre-pre-production for our next LP.
You’re touring pretty heavily until the end of November, what are you plans after that?
We will hibernate for most of the winter as we prepare to do more touring, recording and other rock band stuff next year. I'll also be working on a new project I'm doing called Forbidden Friends. Single out on Kill Rock Stars next March!
You’ve in previous interviews that “you can’t manufacture raw energy” - do you think the recording process fully captures your energy and what The Thermals are about?
It turns out you can manufacture raw energy. Ever heard of FOUR LOKO? It's raw energy in a can. The recording process can definitely capture our energy, but only if we consume large quantities of Four Loko when we record a track, and every time we listen back.
What current bands do you listen to and admire?
White Fang, Boom!, Wampire, Reporter, Nurses, Wild Flag. All Portland bands, btw.