#189 The Thermals - Personal Life

I've always liked The Thermals, though its been a slow but steady decline into less spazzy, less fun territory every since More Parts per Million.

Which this album continues, unfortunately. There's some hooks here, some swaying sentiment, but nothing nearly as propulsive as Pillar of Salt or No Culture Icons, which is undeniably a disappointment. It ends up sounding a bit late era midtempo green day, anthemic without being truly propulsive. Agreeable, pleasant, will probably find its way into my headphones once or twice more, but nothing more noteworthy than 3/5