The Thermals are a rock band, plain and simple. They don’t mess around with experimental effects, or fancy production-based bells & whistles. This minimalism is misleading, however, because all of their songs are jam packed with deep, introspective meaning. The Thermals are sort of like musical fly fishermen (which sounds odd because their bass player is a chick). Their songs come off so likable and innocent that the hooks have already sunk in by the time listeners discover the deep lyrical meaning. And by then it’s too late to stop singing along.

Since their 2003 debut, More Parts per Million, each Thermals release has gotten progressively catchier and more infectious. They have also greatly increased their music’s recording quality with each release. According to the band’s Wikipedia page, More Parts per Million was recorded with a 4-track cassette machine inside the kitchen of singer/guitarist Hutch Harris. With the release of their fourth album, Now We Can See, The Thermals have obviously progressed leaps and bounds beyond the confines of Hutch’s kitchen. This album finds the famously lo-fi band trading in their cassette recording equipment in order to churn out some highly polished, studio quality tunes. I'm sure this will piss off some purist fans, but I really think it's the direction the Thermals have been heading in for a while now.

The previous Thermals album, The Body, The Blood, The Machine, was a concept album revolving around an alternate America governed by some wickedly strict Christians. Now We Can See finds the band shifting their focus from matters of religion to matters of death. Even with such a morbid topic, I think the album’s mood is still in general an optimistic one. Some tracks seem to focus on how to cope with the idea dying, or the realization that our demise is inevitable. Another recurring theme is the ability of near-death experiences to inspire people into improving their lifestyles.

Of course, with every life-altering revelation comes the danger of relapsing into dangerous habits. This seems to be the idea behind the album’s appropriately titled lead single, “Now We Can See.” Here we find the narrator looking back on the errors of his civilization’s past, but not necessarily rearing to change his ways. “Now that our vision is strong, we don’t need to admit we were wrong. Now we can see, but the images don’t stick.”

Another interesting theme, which ought to seem familiar to old fans, is a sort of reverse evolution. The first track, “When I Died,” finds the narrator reminiscing about shedding his clothes and skin in exchange for gills and fins in order to crawl back into the sea. This simple, aquatic existence comes across as a welcome alternative after his previous life is described as “busted and wrecked, justly infected.” A few tracks later, “At the Bottom of the Sea” grants us even more insight into Hutch’s ideas of what life would be like as an oceanic creature.

Over all, Now We Can See ought to be a welcome addition to the record collection of anyone already familiar with the Thermals. Of course, it should also hold plenty of appeal for newcomers to Hutch’s gospel. The full album is streaming now at the band’s Myspace profile, and it will be available for purchase in stores and online after April 7.

"I Let it Go"

"Now We Can See" (music video)

"Now We Can See" (live and acoustic)

"Returning to the Fold" (old song, awesome performance)