Thee Oh Sees - Carrion Crawler/The Dream EP

Album review by KevW

This article also appears on http://www.soundsxp.com

Given the overwhelming work rate of Californian psychedelic rockers Thee Oh Sees (seven albums in the last three years) it should come as little surprise that just six months after the release of their last (and now expanded to a five-piece) they return with another new set 'Carrion Crawler/The Dream EP' (call it an EP as much as you like guys, but to me 10 tracks constitutes an album). It's hardly like they've just knocked up a few tracks in practice and thought they'd stick them out in time for Christmas, either. They're in fine fettle here and this time round there's little in the way of filler as can often be the case with such a high work rate.

Dwyer himself has stated that "This one's meant to pummel and throb." Well, true to his word, from the 'Interstellar Overdrive' echoing jam of opener 'Carrion Crawler' through to the psych-punk stutter of closer 'Heavy Doctor', this unquestionably does pummel and, indeed, throb. 'Contraption/Soul Desert' is a barrage of beats, bass and shrieks which can be considered as ammo for anyone wishing to piss off their annoying neighbours with some late night, speaker-busting tuneage. Dirty, scratchy garage riffs and brawny bass are very much the order of the day, with vocals being ordered to go and stand at the back of the class. This production approach and the odd bit of pulsating drone rock will draw comparisons to Wooden Shjips, especially the intoxicating pulses of 'Chem-Farmer'.

The aptly named 'Wrong Idea' is two minutes of routine thrashing about that should be tossed on the pile marked 'skip button' but generally 'Carrion Crawler/The Dream' is fairly faultless without being overwhelmingly mind-blowing. Instead it's a well executed, solid album that will provide much listening pleasure to fans of garage, rock, psychedelia and beyond (those partial to the odd touch of guitar-shredding will find plenty of fulfilment amongst this batch of tracks). We look forward to hearing from them again soon.


Thee Oh Sees - Chem-Farmer by FBi Radio

Free download
Thee Oh Sees - "Carrion Crawler" by rockedition

Free download
Thee Oh Sees - "The Dream" by rockedition

Thee Oh Sees - Contraption/Soul Desert by Surfing on Steam

Thee Oh Sees' website

Buy the album.






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