Thee Oh Sees

Are we perpetually in a state of reviewing Oh Sees albums? Sometimes it feels like it. Even with that "hiatus" the band has an intimidating output, that at this time is getting tough to crack for new listeners. As with most of the band's albums Mutilator Defeated At Last is rife with John Dwyer's signature reverb howl, blasting through the fog of guitars like a pink neon blast from a toy ray gun. And though, like this, many hallmarks of Thee Oh Sees sound hang heavy on the album, it expands on the formula nicely. There's a heavy freakout quality to the album making it feel more substantial than its thirty-three odd minutes. Dwyer's been at this long enough that he's trimmed some of the fat and left room only for a suite that punches furiously out of the gate with a sweet dip of cool water in the form of "Sticky Hulks" on the back half bringing the comedown. It feels like a study in how to make psych succeed. While The Drop was a surprise return last year, it doesn't list among my essential Oh Sees, but Mutilator has climbed higher on the list than I'd thought so far into their catalog. Its here and gone before you realize and in true fashion, leaves you wanting to knock that needle back to the start.

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