With the release of their debut LP, Celebration, on Alive/Natural Sounds, Thomas Function have been steadily building a name for themselves in garage and punk circles. The Huntsville, Alabama-based band, however, doesn't stand very firmly under either of those genre umbrellas. Instead, their supremely hummable, lodged-in-the-brain melodies join with crisp jangly guitars and bouncy rhythms to create some of the finest pop-rock coming out today. Being from the Deep South, the occasional roots style does crop up here and there, but Thomas Function certainly aren't making your daddy's Southern rock. Throw a certain beer-bash attitude into the mix, and what you get is a band that is so fun, yet so smart in their songwriting you almost don't know what do with them. No worries, they know how to keep themselves occupied. - Dusted

Since the release of Celebration has already brought hundreds of comparisons to artists such Television, The Violent Femmes, and The Buzzcocks, it makes sense that the album is comprised of material that sounds somewhat familiar despite being backed by exceptionally original songwriting. In a track like "Can't Say No", where a Pixies-like bass line is adjusted accordingly over an organ-led guitar progression that brings visions of classic Television and Velvet Underground to the forefront, it almost makes for a colossal fusion of great indie-rock and punk bands who have made a significant mark in the past 30 years. The infectious "Can't Say No" may be too hectic to make such past comparisons entirely spot-on, but the melodically charged energy that Macero's vocals convey makes the mixture of modernistic enthusiasm with past forms of punk and garage-rock a very satisfying blend. As for fans of The Buzzcocks or even Wire, one listen of "Snake in the Grass" should be convincing enough. Alongside "Conspiracy of Praise" and "A Long Walk", it employs a concisely familiar form of catchy punk without being overly aggressive or manipulative in the process. With the rhythm section constantly impressing me with its tight coordination, the excellent guitar work making the comparisons to Television even possible, and Macero's vocals being a constant source of hooks and youthful vibrancy, Celebration packs a very powerful punch that should have fans and critics alike seriously considering it for the title of this year's most satisfying debut. - Obscure Sound

In no way whatsoever do I claim to be an aficionado of punk rock music. (The bulk of my knowledge of the genre comes from the No Thanks! box set that came out a few years ago.) But I'd like to think that I know good music when I hear it. And this, the debut album from a group of young punks from Alabama (yes, Alabama) called Thomas Function is, indeed, good music. Bringing together the best qualities of '70s punk and new wave, these guys produce a sound similar to that of other current acts like Modest Mouse, but with a more stripped-down, lighthearted taste to it. Really, they remind me more of some of the originals of the genre, such as Nick Lowe, the Buzzcocks, and even Television, artists who didn't just play typical thrash-and-burn punk, but added subtle touches and put their own unique stamp on the music. You could see touches of country, or soul, or funk, as well, depending on the band; but at their core, they were just playing solid rock n’ roll. Another point: You must admit that it takes some stones to play acoustic guitar on a punk album, but that's exactly what Thomas Function's lead singer and guitarist Joshua Macero does throughout on Celebration! And you definitely need guts to play any music that's this good at such a young age. The lads of Thomas Function are already receiving a wealth of great reviews from indie press throughout the country, but it will be interesting to see how (and if) more mainstream media latches on to this fantastic band. If not, at least you'll be able to say you heard about them early on, and had the opportunity to let their sound take you in. And you'll be able to say you enjoyed every minute of this incredible record. Immensely. - Dave Bond / NONzine