Thulium - "Self-titled"
Independent
release
I have to admit - I really didn’t like this CD when I first listened to
it. But... it has seriously grown on me. I carried it around in my
Discman for two days straight, and subjected all of my friends to it.
And you know what? It’s a great CD. Thulium, whom I had never heard of
before getting this disc for review, is an amazing, yet little-known
band.
This CD covers so much ground. There are a myriad of influences to be
heard here. On “Marci,” we get an acoustic pop gem that is far catchier
than the typical fodder heard on the radio. “Lonely” goes from a very
quiet guitar intro to a ska-influenced zydeco thing. “Different From
the Last One” is perhaps the most beautiful love song I’ve ever heard
in my life, with the rain and storm effects in the background and its
chorus of “When I look into your eyes/I see rain/I feel recognized.” I
was almost teary-eyed by the end of it. There is also a rather pretty
cover of Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.”
The vocals are a bit flat at times, but the emotion behind them more
than makes up for them, as does the guitar work, which can go from
quiet to roaring-fuzz in a split second.
To best sum up Thulium’s sound, I’d have to compare them to the Goo Goo
Dolls, but the Goo Goo Dolls if they had a but more punk in the
attitude department. This group is very accomplished, and I look
forward to the night I see them live. This is an incredible CD, and
well worth trying to get your hands on a copy.