Thee Oh Sees – Floating Coffin

Float On

Really, what an appropriate band to come out of San Francisco. Lasting for almost 2 decades, John Dwyer and Thee Oh Sees have been, in factory-style quantities, pumping out garage-y, psychedelic punk reminiscent of what the Fuzztones and other weirdo garage acts were doing in the ’80s. Floating Coffin is just another title to throw up on the shelf with the rest. That’s not to say it’s just another notch on Thee Oh Sees’ belts. Or is it?

The album opens up with “I Come From The Mountain,” a steady-paced rock n’ roller, that serves as an immediate live opener, mostly to get whatever Bay Area drugs kicking into your system. There’s not too much going on in this song. It’s simple, raw and packed full of energy, but it’s not exactly breaking molds.

“Toe Cutter-Thumb Buster” is a slower, guitar-centric trip out song. A strong guitar lead and bass line guide the light falsetto vocals along, with the hook actually being a heavy, catchy guitar lead.

Songs like “No Spell” and “Night Crawler” are a little too “jammy,” excuses to fiddle around with pedals and effects on stage. Nothing too interesting result in these exercises in meditation. It’s almost too little, too late when so many fresh bands like FIDLAR and Hot Lunch are ripping apart druggy punk with exciting and more destructive techniques.

Floating Coffin is an example of a somewhat directionless release, being not as focused and mono-thematic as Purifier II. Of course, Dwyer is doing what he wants, putting out the music he wants to and at the pace he wants to, but it eventually becomes an exercise rather than a mindful take on art. This album isn’t really anything to write home about, but on fresh wax and played loud enough, it can brighten up an afternoon during over some lunch beers.