Thank You

Thank You
Terrible Two
(Thrill Jockey, 2008)

Baltimore noise-rock trio Thank You’s sophomore record is a five-song and 35-minute affair composed of aggressive melodies and non-melodies welded to kinetic drums and tacit grooves. Their approach sounds like Miles Davis’ On the Corner siphoned through the whirlpool of no-wave, and the results are splintered guitar lines, fast, intricate, imperfect drumbreaks, and cascades of organ subverted by plucky bass.

Since all of these tracks are long by conventional standards, there are progressions and arrangements that call for helpful roadmaps, at least for the initial purpose of conveying their M.O. Title track “Terrible Two” is dominated by keyboard and cymbal whitewash until 2:30, when the hook is introduced—a brooding, low-end organ riff anchored by the tribal tendencies and sleigh bells of drummer Elke Wardlaw. At 4:30 Wardlaw takes a solo, but the bass keys sneak back in and keep the song pulsating for the remaining four minutes. “Self With Yourself” has a unique arrangement in which guitarist Jeffrey McGrath and keyboardist Michael Bouyoucas take turns playing against Wardlaw for minutes on end, while sharing only a brief moment as a trio. “Pregnant Friends” is a three-part piece. It begins with fecund lyrics and clean—even acoustic—guitar, resulting in near-halcyon bliss. But at the three-minute mark, after a volley of “Shhs,” the song explodes into one of the most aggressive and exciting portions of the record, all punk, with guitars and keys churning out wails and gasps. The song ends with Bouyoucas delivering a very fuzzy keyboard-bass solo punctuated, nay punctured, by snare and cowbell courtesy of Wardlaw.

by: David MacFadden-Elliott