Chicago Power Poppers Time Thieves Showcase Duality on New LP

The band's two 2025 EPs are compiled into a full-length vinyl release that highlights their range.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 2:23pm

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Time Thieves, a Chicago-based power-pop four-piece, have kicked off 2026 by compiling their two 2025 EPs - "Come Home" and "If You Survive" - into a full-length vinyl LP. The release showcases the band's duality, with the sunny melodies and punky hooks of "Come Home" contrasting the darker themes and heavier sounds of "If You Survive". According to guitarist and singer Jonathan Pool, the change in tone happened before the intense ICE crackdowns in Chicago, but the band still sees a hopeful future on the other side of difficult times.

Why it matters

Time Thieves' new LP provides a snapshot of the band's evolution and resilience in the face of challenging circumstances in Chicago. The compilation highlights their versatility in crafting both upbeat, radio-friendly power-pop and more introspective, heavy-hitting tracks - a reflection of the range of emotions and experiences the city and its residents have grappled with.

The details

Time Thieves' two 2025 EPs, "Come Home" and "If You Survive", showcase the band's stylistic range. "Come Home" features bright, pristine melodies, punky hooks, and inviting vocal harmonies, even as the lyrics confront loss and struggles. "If You Survive", on the other hand, turns toward darker themes and heavier sounds, which the band says was influenced by the intense ICE crackdowns happening in Chicago at the time. However, Time Thieves still envision a hopeful future, with the new LP serving as a "'Come find us when you make it here' rather than a 'Good luck buddy, you're gonna need it' type of message".

  • Time Thieves released their "Come Home" EP in May 2025.
  • Time Thieves released their "If You Survive" EP in October 2025.
  • Time Thieves have kicked off 2026 by compiling both EPs into a full-length vinyl LP.

The players

Time Thieves

A Chicago-based power-pop four-piece band.

Jonathan Pool

Guitarist and singer for Time Thieves.

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What they’re saying

“By the time we were gearing up to put the [second] EP out, the ICE crackdowns in Chicago were at their most intense. Even the title alone felt overly provocative.”

— Jonathan Pool, Guitarist and singer (chicagoreader.com)

“[ If You Survive is] a 'Come find us when you make it here' rather than a 'Good luck buddy, you're gonna need it' type of message.”

— Jonathan Pool, Guitarist and singer (chicagoreader.com)

The takeaway

Time Thieves' new LP showcases the band's resilience and versatility in the face of challenging times in Chicago, blending upbeat power-pop with more introspective, heavy-hitting tracks to provide a hopeful message for listeners navigating difficult circumstances.