Personal Life is the fifth album from the Portland-based indie rock band The Thermals. The album was released on September 7, 2010, on Kill Rock Stars. It is the first to feature drummer Westin Glass, who joined after the completion of 2009's Now We Can See and remained with the band until their 2018 dissolution.

Personal Life
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 7, 2010 (2010-09-07)
Recorded2009/2010 at Jackpot!, Portland, Oregon
GenreIndie rock, punk rock
Length32:12
LabelKill Rock Stars
ProducerChris Walla
The Thermals chronology
Now We Can See
(2009)
Personal Life
(2010)
Desperate Ground
(2013)

As the album was recorded and mixed on analog tape, and mastered for vinyl without digital processes, the vinyl edition boasts a SPARS code of AAA.

The first single from the album to be released was "I Don't Believe You". The music video features Sleater-Kinney member Carrie Brownstein and Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock.[1] "Never Listen to Me" and "Not Like Any Other Feeling" were the other singles.

Reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic72/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic      link
The A.V. ClubB link
Consequence of Sound      link
Mixtape Muse      link
One Thirty BPM84% link
Pitchfork Media6.7/10 link
Spin           link

Reviews of Personal Life represent a diverse mix of opinions on the album. The album holds a score of 72 out of 100 from Metacritic based on "generally favorable reviews".[2]

The album debuted at No. 180 on the Billboard 200 albums chart on its first week in the United States.[3] It also debuted at No. 30 on the Independent Albums,[4] and No. 16 on the Tastemaker Albums charts.[5]

Track listing

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All lyrics are written by Hutch Harris; all music is composed by Kathy Foster/Hutch Harris/Westin Glass

No.TitleLength
1."I'm Gonna Change Your Life"2:59
2."I Don't Believe You"2:38
3."Never Listen to Me"4:30
4."Not Like Any Other Feeling"3:34
5."Power Lies"2:58
6."Only for You"4:17
7."Alone, a Fool"2:08
8."Your Love Is So Strong"3:00
9."A Reflection"2:37
10."You Changed My Life"3:25

Personnel

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  • Kathy Foster - bass, vocals, noise
  • Hutch Harris - guitar, vocals
  • Westin Glass - drums, vocals

Charts

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Chart (2010) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[6] 180
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[7] 1
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[8] 30
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[9] 16

References

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  1. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (2010-08-20). "Video: Thermals: "I Don't Believe You"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
  2. ^ a b "Personal Life by The Thermals". Metacritic. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  3. ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. September 25, 2010.
  4. ^ "Independent Albums". Billboard. September 25, 2010.
  5. ^ "Tastemaker Albums". Billboard. September 25, 2010.
  6. ^ "The Thermals Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  7. ^ "The Thermals Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard.
  8. ^ "The Thermals Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
  9. ^ "The Thermals Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard.