Friday, June 10, 2011

Thee Oh Sees' Castlemania makes for a thoroughly weird status quo


Ever buy an album solely for its cover art? It's usually not a great idea - much like buying a pulpy paperback novel based on the cover illustration, or renting what looks like an awesome '80s horror flick, only to get home and realize they blew the entire budget on the clamshell box art.

Once in a while, though, things do work out, and you end up with a record that looks as awesome as it sounds. I feel like most Thee Oh Sees albums are like that - their artwork always manages to be playful, and even a little childish, while conveying a menacing undercurrent. I loved the cover for Castlemania as soon as I saw it, and the songs didn't let me down, either.

Treblezine has my review of the record, which, I have to be honest, isn't all that different from the rest of the band's output. That said, there's nothing wrong with being consistent, especially when you're this good (and this weird). The band's scuzzy garage-punk is the perfect way to get your summer started right.

Watch the video for "I Need See" below: