They still have teeth
2010's Personal Life was where The Thermals exchanged their lo-fi power pop for a sound that was slower and more refined. Despite having some great numbers, you couldn't shake the feeling that after five albums, this was going to be their swan song.
So when Desperate Ground kicks off, it's a fervent second wind from a band with renewed purpose.
Born to Kill sounds like a statement of intent than an album opener. An older and wiser Hutch Harris sounds as defiant as he did back on Fuckin' A and it's that feeling that runs deep through every song in this 28 minute affair. And that's not the only thing that evokes nostalgic memories. From start to finish, there's a deliberate use of muddy production, giving teeth to the more obvious pop songs like The Sunset and Faces Stay with Me.
Recapturing the old sound is a dangerous game to play, often leading so many great bands to put out parodies of former glories. But what The Thermals have achieved on Desperate Ground is something more balanced - a clever use of their strengths dating from over a decade.
It's not rocket science, but in-the-moment pacing and romanticised introspection has always been The Thermals' forte, so when Desperate Ground takes its foot off the accelerator for the odd song, the change is more noticeable than usual. Not so much a lull, but tracks like I Go Alone and Where I Stand are somewhat passable and lack that one lick that makes you come back for more.
While Desperate Ground might sound like a call back, it's made by a band older and wiser, steeped in its own history and pushing forward to a more secure future.