The Thousands

How do you write a ‘review’ about a band you really love? Seriously, someone tell me and I’ll try to write you that review. But we’ll leave that to the smart guys; in the meantime here are some word-faps, because all I can tell you is that Carrion Crawler / The Dream EP is just so good, and that’s why this is just so hard.

This follow-up to the John Dwyer semi-solo effort Castlemania doesn’t drastically divert from the full roster Thee Oh Sees sound – that inimitable yelp of John Dwyer (Thee Oh Sees have a cover band?) and the shared vocals of Brigid Dawson, not to mention the goddamn grooves of the rhythm section. But there are some subtle differences that at least I’ve never noticed before. Be nice, remember “smart guys”. I’m hearing kraut/space all up in this! ‘Wrong Idea’ is a straight up signature jam, but with an eerie space odyssey whistle. ‘The Dream’ is reverb drenched flat out garage fun underpinned by the introduction of mono-note kraut synth at the 2 minute mark that stretches it right out. ‘Chem-Farmer’ also features some tripped out atmospheres and ‘Crushed Grass’ gyrates away under blips, bleeps, and blams. Far out, it’s all so great.

So maybe those little things have been there all along and I truly ain’t one of the smart guys, or I’ve been listening to Thee Oh Sees through a particular ‘garage’ filter and have only just switched channels. That’s one of the best things about records; how they sound different at different times as you change. It’s a bona fide relationship, and while I’m probably way out of depth, I’m happy about mine with Thee Oh Sees.