Floating Coffin

Not only does *Floating Coffin* boast perhaps the best and most appropriately wacky artwork yet to adorn a record by these garage-psych kings; it may be Thee Oh Sees\' best collection of tunes. Their 12th studio album narrows Thee Oh Sees\' focus after the stylistic sprawl of *Putrifiers II*, honing in on (and scrubbing down) their neon-soaked, fuzz-encrusted sound just enough to give the feel of a record destined to be a classic. It\'s got twin guitar leads, blood-boiling organ riffs, swirling and sticky melodies, and a declarative hard-rocking identity. From the roaring stomp of \"I Come from the Mountain,\" the Krautrock-inflected \"No Spell,\" and the bass-driven, hyper-speed havoc of \"Maze Fancier\" to the viola-sighing, discontented \"Minotaur,\" *Floating Coffin* has a cohesive structure and accessible sonic-palate thrills. The Bay Area is darn lucky to have these guys—along with an embarrassment of other musical riches—and they know it. Thee Oh Sees wear a crown, bestowed by the bloodied masses at their feral live shows and the armchair travelers who enjoy their mind-melting excursions from a distance. We\'re not worthy.

Continuing Thee Oh Sees' impressive run of the last couple of years, the John Dwyer-fronted garage rock band's newest album is another resounding success. With its dark undertones, and lyrics about splattered blood and dead children, it's also sort of a sadistic success.

Thee Oh Sees dropped another heady psych joint with Floating Coffin. It stitches psychotic school dance vibes among the surf garage in a hurried splendor.