Luke-warm effort

In the category of decent bands, you’ve likely never heard of exists Portland, Ore., indie pop/punk trio the Thermals.

Formed in 2002, they self-recorded their debut “More Parts Per Million” on a four-track recorder a year later. The demo ended up in the hands of Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie fame. This would lead to the band signing with Seattle label Sub Pop Records.

“Now We Can See” is the band’s debut on their new label Kill Rock Stars.

The lively “How We Fade” easily takes the cake for best track on the album. The song is a juxtaposition of peaceful melody and uplifting guitar distortion creating an emotive near-masterpiece. Lead singer Hutch Harris has a recognizable smooth-yet-nasally voice that permeates this track as well as the rest of the album.

On “Fade,” his vocals are more heartfelt and spirited than on any other tune in the collection.

Although “Fade” may be the best song, the title track “Now We Can See” is the catchiest tune they could have ever hoped to create. Starting with the repetition of a nonsensical, full-band chant, the driving verses carry a more straight-forward contrast to the anthemic intro.

The two-sided musical blend is only enhanced by verse after verse of insightful lyrics outlining Harris’ dystopian view of humanity’s evolution.

The latest release by the Thermals has traces of greatness and should only help them move up in the realm of indie-esque bands. That being said, some songs on the release lack the kind of raw emotion and energy that legendary records are made of.
If they can take what works on “Now We Can See” and expand on it in the future, they have a legitimate shot at making an unforgettable album.