Thee Oh Sees

Northern California tends to be a bit more artsy than the rest of the country. Bands coming from the Bay Area can be particularly so. The lo-fi sound is a badge of honor in some musician circles—like wearing wacky clothes is liberating to some people. So, if you can get past the determinedly muddy sound quality of this recording by S.F.’s Thee Oh Sees, you will find colorful songs that collect retro styles and layers them on top of each other like several designs of plaid. And it sounds really cool, with male and female vocals that clash and shout lyrics like “Go meet the seed!” and gleefully “ba-ba-ba” the chorus refrain. The singers share a playful energy like the B52s, but musically, the ragged strumming and raw pounding of Thee Oh Sees seems influenced by the outer fringes of rockabilly and garage rock. I’m reminded of the German band The Monks as well as Bay Area experimenters Thinking Fellers Union Local 282. Those accustomed to independent rock’s sometimes less-than-commercial sound aesthetics will readily enjoy the rough-and-tumble melodies and shear energy of these songs. This is music for house parties of the new new wave. It’s art? Let’s dance!