Filled with euphoria and sensuality, All Pleasure is the second album by queer post-punk band Thus Love. All Pleasure is their most recent effort since Memorial (2022). The album embraces a broader polished sound with a clash of mod-pop influences. Each track exudes storytelling and anthemic melodies that transport listeners into an immersive world. This is amplified through Thus Love’s minimal production and expressive hooks.
The album’s “On the Floor” opens with a strumming bass that slowly culminates into an ambiance of angst and energy. Lead vocalist Echo Mars’ crass vocal delivery demands listeners’ attention. The vocals are lively and harmonized throughout the track. Lyrically, the song could be referencing societal beliefs and how listeners could be taught to think about issues in a certain way. Lyrics such as: “Take time to figure out/ All these things to unlearn about” are statements about intent and will to change how we think about beliefs society has taught us and break down those walls.
The following track: “Birthday Song,” highlights platonic friendships and celebrating community. It is an upbeat grunge anthem that sways listeners off their feet and is sure to be one they will come back to. The infectious chorus: “We’re still best friends/ it must be my charm” reinstate this idea. Meanwhile, the mesmerizing “Get Stable,” a fist-pumping punk-pop song, explores the theme of existentialism. It starts with a bang of pulsating guitars and shifting grooves. Lu Racine lends a hand by blending with Mars’ energetic vocals, creating a slick, memorable track. The title track, “All Pleasure,” is an earworm feast of emotional depths and yearning. Beginning with a lingering uninhibited production, it showcases the harmonizing strengths of Ally Juleen and Echo Mars on this busting track aching of creative expression. The call-and-response style used between the two of them adds a mystic flair to this joyful track.
“Face to Face” is a musical shift on the album, showcasing a reflective side to Thus Love. It features a tender piano opening and Echo’s somber isolated vocals. Lyrically, this track is about confronting the worst part of ourselves and accepting our vulnerability to the world. Lyrics that showcase this idea: “I thought I told you/ once before/ It isn’t fair for us/ to bully ourselves anymore,” add a layer of introspection to the band’s message of acceptance.
Formed in 2019 from Brattleboro, Vermont, Thus Love’s current band line-up consists of vocalist and guitarist Echo Mars, (they/them) drummer Lu Racine, (he/they) bassist Ally Juleen, (she/they) and guitarist synths Shane Blank, (He/him). All Pleasure was produced by Thus Love. The lyrics produced throughout the album are honest, immersive, and self-reflective. Many surrounding themes include belonging, community, and connection in the digital age.
All Pleasure expands on the introspective outlook Memorial had set before it. The sound pushes the band’s creative boundaries to a new level by interweaving catchy hooks and melodies. “House on a Hill” taps into escapism and the ever-growing lack of enjoying the simple pleasures within our daily lives. Mars’ angst vocals are shifted throughout this energetic synth-infused track. The album’s closer, “Losing a Friend,” is anthemic and edgy in its message of regret and unconditional love for community and unity. Sonically, unabashed with a heavy electric guitar and synths. The song brings All Pleasure’s music journey to full circle. It is both melancholy and epic in its style and commitment.
This rock record is a feast for the ages. Thus Love has carefully carved a pathway within the Indie Rock genre, breaking the barriers, and will continue to do so. All Pleasure plays like a symphony for listeners. The band’s creative storytelling and approach to social critiquing make this a must for any fan. The lyrics on the album are vast, reflective, and contemporary. Echo Mars and Ally Juleen’s songwriting provides All Pleasure in confronting the complexities of society and puts it to listeners’ perspectives in a new way. Highly recommended for fans, new and old, of Thus Love, and be immersed in the musical journey featuring nostalgia, energetic melodies, and superb production.
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