The Thermals were an indie rock trio from Portland, Oregon. The band was fo… Read Full Bio ↴The Thermals were an indie rock trio from Portland, Oregon. The band was formed in 2002 and released seven records and toured at least fifteen countries.

The Thermals' sixth LP and debut for Saddle Creek, Desperate Ground, was produced by John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth) in Hoboken, NJ. Agnello and The Thermals completed the record and evacuated the studio just hours before Hurricane Sandy ravaged New Jersey, a fate quite fitting when you consider the product. Desperate Ground is a true scrappy and scratchy return-to-form for The Thermals, with all the raw power and unhinged adolescent energy that made their early LP's so insanely enjoyable. Lyrically, Desperate Ground is a brash and irresponsible ode to human violence, a black celebration of the inevitability of war and death. A dark and yet joyous affair, Desperate Ground tells the (murky) tale of a lone rogue in the night. One man, one path, one sword. An unceasing urge to destroy. A never-ending battle against the forces of nature. A destiny impossible to avoid.

In early 2013 The Thermals signed to Saddle Creek, a label they've known and admired for many years. The Thermals and Saddle Creek have a long history of sleeping on floors together: The Thermals have toured with Cursive and Ladyfinger, and Hutch and Kathy organized the first Bright Eyes show in Portland way back in 1999.

The Thermals were most famous for turning down $50,000 from Hummer, discovering the elusive fourth chord in punk rock (F#m) and for soundtracking that scene in Weeds where Mary-Louise Parker jumps in the pot-filled pool in her underwear.

The Thermals announced they were splitting in April 2018.

The Thermals lineup was Hutch Harris, Kathy Foster and Westin Glass.

A Stare Like Yours
The Thermals Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You call the shots
Its in your face, you don't have to sweat
You call the shots, you learn to forget
What brought your stare

You call the shots
Its in your face, you don't have to sweat
You call the shots, you learn to forget

Its in your face, you know what you've got
You call the shots

You open your eyes and stare into mine
A stare like yours is hard to find,
Its ultraviolet
You close your eyes and breathe
I feel your lips, you hit the switch

You need the touch
Its in your face, you show it so well
Its in your face, you don't have to tell
Your stares got no secrets left
You need the touch
Its in your face, you show it so well
Its in your face, you don't have to tell
You need the touch, you power true
Or ill power you

Yea, you open your eyes and stare into mine
A stare like yours is hard to find,
Its ultraviolet
You close your eyes and breathe
I feel your lips, you hit the switch

You open your eyes and stare into mine
A stare like yours is hard to find,
Its ultraviolet

You close your eyes and breathe
I feel your lips, you hit the switch

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Thermals' song "A Stare Like Yours" are about someone who is in control and calls the shots in their relationship, as evidenced by lines like "You call the shots" and "You need the touch." The singer describes this person's stare as "ultraviolet" and "hard to find," suggesting that they are intense and all-consuming. The song suggests that the singer is drawn to this person's power and is willing to be manipulated by them, as evidenced by the line "Or ill power you." Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of a relationship that is intense, passionate, and unequal in terms of power dynamics.

Interestingly, the song "A Stare Like Yours" is part of a larger rock opera called "The Body, the Blood, the Machine," which tells the story of a futuristic society controlled by a religious institution. The lyrics of the song can be read as a commentary on the power dynamics of this society, with the person described in the song representing the ruling class and the singer representing the oppressed masses.

Line by Line Meaning

You call the shots
You are in control and make the decisions

Its in your face, you don't have to sweat
It's obvious and effortless for you

You call the shots, you learn to forget
You forget the consequences of your actions because you are accustomed to being in control

What brought your stare
What caused your intense look and attention

You open your eyes and stare into mine
You focus your gaze on me

A stare like yours is hard to find
Your intense gaze is unique and rare

Its ultraviolet
It's a powerful and intense energy

You close your eyes and breathe
You take a moment to pause and relax

I feel your lips, you hit the switch
You initiate something passionate and exciting

You need the touch
You crave physical contact

Its in your face, you show it so well
It's obvious to others that you want physical contact