Now We Can See is the fourth album from the Portland-based indie rock band The Thermals. The album was released on April 7, 2009, on Kill Rock Stars, which is their first album since switching labels from Sub Pop Records. Lead singer Hutch Harris claimed the album hinges on a leitmotif of "songs from when we were alive".[1]

Now We Can See
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 7, 2009 (2009-04-07)
RecordedSupernatural Sound, Oregon City, Oregon in 2008
GenreIndie rock, punk rock
Length34:32
LabelKill Rock Stars
ProducerJohn Congleton
The Thermals chronology
The Body, The Blood, The Machine
(2006)
Now We Can See
(2009)
Personal Life
(2010)

The first single from the album was the title track, "Now We Can See". It premiered at Pitchfork Media on February 10, 2009.[2]

"Now We Can See" was featured in the second-season finale of the NBC dramedy Chuck.[3]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.1/10[4]
Metacritic79/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [6]
Alternative Press     [7]
The A.V. ClubA[8]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[9]
The Guardian     [10]
NME6/10[11]
Pitchfork7.8/10[12]
Slant Magazine     [13]
Spin8/10[14]
Uncut     [15]

The album holds a score of 79 out of 100 from Metacritic based on "generally favorable reviews".[5]

Track listing

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The official track-listing was revealed on their label, Kill Rock Stars' website:[16]

All lyrics are written by Hutch Harris; all music is composed by Kathy Foster/Hutch Harris

No.TitleLength
1."When I Died"3:21
2."We Were Sick"2:44
3."I Let It Go"3:35
4."Now We Can See"3:30
5."At the Bottom of the Sea"5:43
6."When We Were Alive"1:45
7."I Called Out Your Name"2:52
8."When I Was Afraid"3:01
9."Liquid In, Liquid Out"1:52
10."How We Fade"3:26
11."You Dissolve"2:43
iTunes Bonus Tracks
No.TitleLength
12."When I Was Afraid" (Demo)3:03
13."I Let It Go" (Demo)3:37

Personnel

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  • Kathy Foster - drums, bass, vocals, piano, noise
  • Hutch Harris - guitar, vocals

Charts

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Chart (2009) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[17] 191
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[18] 5
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[19] 20
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[20] 10

References

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  1. ^ Thompson, Paul (2008-08-26). "Thermals Reveal Now We Can See Tracks, B-Sides". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  2. ^ Kelly, Zack (2009-02-10). "Premiere: The Thermals: "Now We Can See" MP3/Stream". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  3. ^ Chuck TV web site
  4. ^ "Now We Can See by The Thermals reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Reviews for Now We Can See by The Thermals". Metacritic. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  6. ^ Sendra, Tim. "Now We Can See – The Thermals". AllMusic. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  7. ^ Masley, Ed (July 28, 2009). "Political indie-punks weigh in on love and death". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  8. ^ Modell, Josh (April 7, 2009). "The Thermals: Now We Can See". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  9. ^ "Mini music reviews". Entertainment Weekly. April 3, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  10. ^ Hann, Michael (April 2, 2009). "The Thermals: Now We Can See". The Guardian. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  11. ^ Lister, Kat (April 3, 2009). "Album Review: The Thermals". NME. Archived from the original on April 11, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  12. ^ Raber, Rebecca (March 31, 2009). "The Thermals: Now We Can See". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  13. ^ Boland, Casey (April 9, 2009). "The Thermals: Now We Can See". Slant Magazine. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  14. ^ Maerz, Melissa (April 2009). "The Thermals: Now We Can See". Spin. 25 (4): 84. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  15. ^ "The Thermals: Now We Can See". Uncut (135): 103. June 2009.
  16. ^ Ringsage, Stiner; The Thermals (2009). "Now We Can See press release". Kill Rock Stars. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  17. ^ "The Thermals Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  18. ^ "The Thermals Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard.
  19. ^ "The Thermals Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
  20. ^ "The Thermals Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard.