The Body, The Blood, The Machine

Band: The Thermals

Released: 2006

I really blew it by not including The Body, The Blood, The Machine on my “Best of ’06” list. A concept album about a future dominated by conservative Christian fascists may sound a bit strident, and lyrics like “God told his son ‘it’s time to come home / I promise you won’t have to die all alone / I need you to pay for the sins I create’” wouldn’t necessarily dissuade someone from thinking otherwise. The Thermals, however, manage to pull it off with aplomb, by matching their words with energetic, careening melodies that create an added sense of urgency. It’s as though James Dobson is breathing right down the bands neck as they plow through “A Pillar of Salt,” or “Here’s Your Future.” TBTBTM may be a bit trad in its musical stylings, but the album makes for an exhilarating listening experience.