The Thermals have never been shy of speaking the truth as they see
it. Their last album, a scathing critique of America under a right-wing
theocracy, was momentous in both its intellectualism and power-punk
execution. Now We Can See is equally ambitious, but easier to
digest because the story foresees hope instead of despair. The main
characters shed their skin, return to the sea and experience an
enlightenment that comes from abandoning the desires for power and
possession. Songs like “When I Died” and the title track are catchier
than anything the band did before, but never does this newfound
accessibility detract from their uniqueness.
This article appears in Jun 18-24, 2009.