Thee Oh Sees ‰ÛÒ Carrion Crawler/The Dream

A combination of two separate EP‰’s, this latest release from John Dwyer‰’s Thee Oh Sees is a relentless, no-frills collection of garage rock stompers, as opposed to the psych-pop tunes showcased on their earlier 2011 album Castlemania. While a few of the tracks of short blasts of distortion and general madness, many of the songs have a raw, jam-like feel to them that capture the essence of the band‰’s renowned live shows.

Most notably, the album‰’s title tracks (note: I don‰’t know if an album can have two title tracks, but bear with me here) “Carrion Crawler‰” and “The Dream‰” are furious barnstormers that never feel like aimless noodling or guitar exercises, despite their lengthy running times. If you need a break from synth-dominated tunes or quiet folk ballads, this is the place to start.

RIYL: Jay Reatard, Ty Segall
Five-word synopsis: Turn it up to 11.
Listen to this album while you’re: Speeding down the highway, weaving in and out of traffic.
Rating: 9/10 – Seriously, this album is awesome.
Recommended: 1, 6, 8