Thee Oh Sees - The Cool Death of the Island Raiders

Re-release of this album from 2005. The band has had a few releases out since this one on In the Red. After the release of 2004’s double-disc album 3 & 4, OCS returns with a new slab of utter innocence. The Cool Death of the Island Raiders features 13 tracks of a pure acoustic/folk/synth-pop with a bounce. Tunes only a soulless vampire couldn’t enjoy, like snappy, teddy bear anthems for the lingering ten year old in all of us. On The Cool Death of the Island Raiders, the band turned to Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio to work his production magic, taking OCS down a more refined and pop-sensible route. It’s as if they threw a sheet of fresh, pathological playfulness over a dusty loft mattress, creating by far thee best goo-rock, bedroom folk our world has ever heard. It’s hard to imagine something so innocent could spawn from the mind of America’s underground trash-rock king, John Dwyer. After the demise of The Coachwhips, his legendary garage-threesome late last year, Dwyer decided to center OCS as his numero uno. No longer a side project, but his main baby…and a playful one at that. Along with Dwyer’s distant vocals and guitar, OCS features Patrick Mullins (Burmese) on percussion and newcomer, Brigit Dawson; a UK native who adds loads of soft and delightful backing vocals to the signature hushed, mushed sound of OCS. OCS, pounds of delicious, California sunshine poured over top the pop of Donovan. Submerge yourself in it.

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