Review Summary: If you've read my previous reviews, you know that diversity means a lot to me. What does this have to do with Thee Oh Sees, and their newest album "Floating Coffin"? Welp, just about everything really.
Thee Oh Sees seemed to form the same way my band did: John Dwyer was a musician who had some very experimental stuff written, so he formed his own band as a outlet for these said demos. The band went from an outlet to a full time project for Dwyer, spawning 12 full lengths, and 9 EPs in since 2004, an amazing feat if I may add.
Their newest effort "Floating Coffin " is my favorite, and that's probably because it's the only one I've heard from them. However, I have a feeling that nothing by them will compare to "Floating Coffin" because it has everything I like in an album.
The album is very much so a chill, relaxed feel good ride with a couple of bumps and downers. The album kicks off with the most feel good track I've heard in a while, "I Came From the Mountains". The band really couldn't have chosen a better opening, as it gives you a very good idea of what's to come, so you think. But then, "Toe Cutter - Thumb Buster" comes in a slaps all expectation for another feel good song, and instead gives you a very droney, sludgy melody that gives you a sense of erieness that gives you goosebumps. The vocals in this song match the feeling, as the vocals make you feel very soothed, yet still on edge all at the same time, and I can't honestly recall any other song that has done so to me.
Two songs in, and you already know that it's going to be diverse, something that I really love in a album. Diversity is key to me; every song on this album could be perceived as a different band. In fact, when I showed this album to a friend of mine, he asked "Are these the same guys?" after every song. I don't blame him, honestly. You've got some droney songs such as "Toe Cutter - Thumb Buster" and "Nightcrawler", and you've got some fast ones such as the title track "Floating Coffin", and even some slower songs shone through "Minotaur".
Not to mention, the musicianship on this album is just incredible. The riffs can be in your face and fast such as in "Floating Coffin", where the bass line is incredibly repetitive yet effective, the riffs can be very soft and melodic such as in "Minotaur" and "Maze Fancier". The bassist was not afraid to be repetitive and very loud about it, which normally would be bad, but for some odd reason it all works very well in the end for the album's good.
I could listen to this album all the way through for weeks and not get bored of it, and, I already have.
Pros:
Not a single bad song
Diversity
Great musicianship
Flows very well
Cons:
??????
At the end of my reviews, I like to suggest wether or not you should check out the rest of the band's work. And I can say yes, although I've never heard any of it. I can safely say I am confident I will love it too.
5/5, a classic, GG, would play again, goodnight
