Oh Sees
Smote Reverser
photo: turntablelab.com
It’s a funny thing when you think a band has topped themselves to the point of no return. That happened to me when I first heard Smote Reverser by Oh Sees (formerly Thee Oh Sees). Now this statement (topping oneself) is a hard one to make for a band like this. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it: Oh Sees put out records like Donald Trump lies.
Now there’s a thought…
But seriously, this is supposed to communicate just how good this record is. I was wrong about this being the best the band will ever sound. Thee Oh Sees have certainly continued to improve on themselves, but when Smote Reverser came out after the band teased they might be calling it quits, I thought to myself, “Wow, has this band ever sounded so GOOD?”
There are certainly many reasons why Smote Reverser is an outstanding record. First off, it sounds unlike anything else because Thee Oh Sees sound unlike anyone else. Second, as Jon Spencer used to say, music should be weird, and Smote Reverser definitely sounds weird and loud. Even that cover is transfixingly bonkers. Finally, these are some of the strongest and most accessible songs in their catalog, plain and simple. Just listen to Overthrown and you’ll think to yourself, “Oh yeah. THIS is what it’s all about.” Smote Reverser is definitely a harder sounding Oh Sees record and has less of a psychedelic sound to it. That’s not to say it’s completely devoid of psychosis or that this is a straight up metal album in anyway. It’s just solidly Oh Sees.
Smote Reverser is bound to be another great entry in the massively impressive Oh Sees catalog: a group that just refuses to quit. Few bands can boast about this. Oh, and as with all Oh Sees records, vinyl is the only way to go. How else are you going to look at the artwork that accompanies this music? And like with their previous releases, this vinyl has tinges of originality all over it: from the gatefold cover, to the cornered edges of the sleeves. The folks at Castleface compel you.
Get it here, you dummy!
