A rising superstar in indie rock that needs to be on your radar is Thala. She is quickly becoming one of the best up-and-coming artists of the genre. With each release she continues to develop her style and craft as a musician and her second album, Avalanche, is no different. It is yet another magnificent record full of highly memorable tunes.
These songs feel very nostalgic. Thala uses her influences and musical styles in a way that feels like her own distinct thing rather than a blatant rip-off to artists or eras that came before. For example, the dreamy haze of ‘drive song’ will most likely remind the listener of Mazzy Star, but Thala incorporates many interesting things into the song, making it sound fresh. In addition, some songs are occasionally reminiscent of Soccer Mommy, but Thala experiments with things instrumentally, melodically, or structurally to make them sound more original.
There are multiple tracks from Avalanche that deserve to be on heavy rotation in your playlist. Crisp drumming, punchy guitar riffs, commanding vocals, a charmingly upbeat energy, and a triumphantly euphoric chorus make ‘body to you’ a wonderfully exciting time. The track is joyously happy but is also quite melancholic. Combining these two opposing emotions is not an easy thing to do but Thala magically weaves them together.
Another terrific song is ‘sleep paralysis.’ It starts off feeling very much like a soothing lullaby. The calming instrumentation backed by Thala’s gentle voice gives the song a bit of a mesmerizing trance-like state. Eventually, the song blasts off and effortlessly transitions into an exhilarating 2000s pop rock tune.
Meanwhile, the standout track from the record ‘don’t want u to die’ is perfect in every way. This song will instantly turn you into a huge fan of Thala. The song mixes dream pop, shoegaze, indie rock, and alternative rock in a thrillingly endearing way. The hooks are undeniably catchy. It features a wonderful earworm of a chorus. Thala’s vocals are incredibly captivating. If you love a good guitar solo, ‘don’t want u to die’ has you covered. It is absolutely electrifying, gnarly, and loud with a dirty tone that kicks some ass. You will never grow tired of hearing this sensational song.
Lastly, ‘tongue-tied & starry-eyed’ is a dynamite track mainly due to Sfven being featured on the track. Warm, folksy instrumentation, heartfelt lyrics, a rousing chorus, and the stunningly haunting harmonies of Thala and Sfven produce a powerfully uplifting tune. Hopefully, Thala and Sfven will create more music together in the future. Their voices blend perfectly, and ‘tongue-tied & starry-eyed’ is one of the best songs off of the record.
In terms of songwriting, Avalanche is introspective, mature and potent. A prime example of this is the title track. Thala delivers a confident and lovely coming-of-age statement about life. It never once comes off as corny or cliché. Listeners can feel the genuine emotion through Thala’s intimate storytelling and beautiful vocals.
Overall Thala’s Avalanche is a terrific follow-up to her debut album, adolescence. The future of indie rock looks incredibly bright with Thala at the helm.
