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Album reviews Music

Thee Oh Sees

Rating: NNNN


No longer a cult band championed by in-the-know indie nerds, Thee Oh Sees have become trendsetters thanks to their ever-broadening sonic language and seemingly tireless work ethic. With seven full-lengths in the last five years alone, the San Francisco five-piece still seem incapable of writing the same song twice.

The increased spotlight hasn’t decreased their propensity to spaz out. Not their most accessible record, Volume 3 – a collection of non-album tracks – isn’t an ideal introduction for newcomers. But it does speak to the range of leader John Dwyer, who guides the band through spooky, tribal jams (FBI2), mod-influenced stomps (Always Flying) and loose, jazzy breakdowns (Ugly Man).

Sure, there’s a lack of cohesion, but it’s not a bad thing. The record revels in the band’s enjoyable madness. And though they might still be categorized as garage rock, they’re expanding the genre’s boundaries by acting out each fantastical whim.

Top track: Devil Again

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