The Thermals - Now We Can See

I feel like I should preface this review with some form of a "disclaimer." You see, The Thermals, an indie-post-power-pop-punk band from Portland, Oregon, are my most favorite band in the whole wide world. There, disclaimed.

Now let me get it all out: "OH MY GOD GUYS THIS IS THE BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR HANDS DOWN THE BESTEST WOO!" ..OK, phew now that that's out of my system..

Now We Can See is The Thermals' fourth album, and will be officially released on April 7th. For anyone even remotely familiar with The Thermals back catalog Now We Can See is an entirely different beast. Whereas their first 3 albums were raucous affairs in lo-fi Indie punk this album has much larger melodies, bombastic production values (Via John Congleton, producer for Explosions in the Sky, Polyphonic Spree, and more), and longer, fuller songs.

Lead singer Hutch Harris' lyrical talent has also evolved to fit this bigger sound. While 2006's The Body, The Blood, The Machine was an overtly political album, Now We Can See focuses on a more mature motif of "songs from when we were alive." Fittingly this motif features songs with titles like "When We Were Alive" or the pop-punk opening gem "When I Died." The more grown up mood shines the most on the nearly six minute track "At the Bottom of the Sea", "I Called Out Your Name" and the huge sounding album highlight "How We Fade".

Don't fret however, there's still plenty of hard hitting, punchy stuff up for offer here. Specifically the driving force of "When I Was Afraid" and the incredibly energetic album closer "You Dissolve". Not to mention the infectiously catchy title track that's been making the rounds on the web the past few weeks.

At the end of the day Now We Can See is The Thermals most fully realized album yet, and well worth your time to check out. I'm saying that as a music lover in general and not just a kid obsessed with The Thermals(which I am). It's hard for me to imagine anyone not having a good time with this one, so check it out!

Now We Can See is out on Kill Rock Stars, April 7th, 2009.

Now We Can See - The Thermals