Oh Sees
Face Stabber
I’ve always admitted Thee Oh Sees (now just “Oh Sees”), first for their talent, then for their consistent output of good music, then for their work ethic, then for all three. One never knows what a new year will bring, musically, but one can always count on a new John Dwyer project.
Honestly, with such a massive output of stellar material, it’s hard for me to admit that this band and frontman John Dwyer are still a mystery to me. Maybe it’s because I’m too busy listening to Thee Oh Sees to worry about what goes on behind the scenes. This isn’t a bad thing because with every Thee Oh Sees album you’re going to have a good time.
It’s really Castlemania that made me notice this band, and that album will always have a dear place in my heart, but there is so much more to this band. Combining electronics, fuzz, psychedelics, and pop into their garage sound Thee Oh Sees have been on a steady course perfecting their sound. Every album sounds like we would expect it to but pushes what the band can do. Fittingly the zenith of their sound is reached in their latest release Face Stabber. It’s rocking and pulsing decorated with high pitched guitar compliments and Dwyers’ own high-pitched singing (and his trademark “Whoo!”) and adds the elements of multiple drums to make this probably the grooviest Oh Sees album yet. It’s also not afraid to experiment even more in psychedelia with longer, drawn out tracks (some around the 20-minute mark), which is when it finally hit me just how much this band sounds like Can.
Luckily, we have the fine folks at Castleface handling the vinyl releases. This shit is pressed on double LP . Killer presentation? You’ve got that too on a gatefold LP highlighting the predictably insane artwork that is associated with this band. This time it’s even more special with a heavy stock gatefold that appears to have giant stickers for artwork. It’s just so shiny and unique. Don’t you dare get this on CD.
The thrash, speed, and sheer rocking all combine to make this the most expansive and daring manifestation of (Thee) Oh Sees. It’s another stellar entry in the band’s catalog.
Buy it here still available on color vinyl!
