Thee Oh Sees are no doubt the lightest of his excursions, but in contrast to the rest of his resume one could surmise that there are significant reasons for the change.
Thee Oh Sees have a lo-fi electric-acoustic sound that's usually soaked in reverb, making it as if you can hear and see the exact room they recorded in. It creates a very distinct mood that seems to fit their style, lyrics, and melodies.
What most people focus on is that Mr. Dwyer is in the band. While it's certainly a notable quality, the recent band members bring so much more to the table. The earliest recordings are Dwyer's solo recordings, mostly single instrument/vocal ditties that you can hear him working out. They're an intimate portrait of John, but without the recent material, the portrait would simply be incomplete.
Thee Oh Sees don't subscribe to any one style.
With the addition of Brigid Dawson, Petey Dammit, and a rotating cast of drummers, the sound has grown into the landscape that one man couldn't create alone. Brigid's soprano voice brings an almost hauntingly sensitive aspect to the lyrics and melodies, while Petey and Mike's pounding and insistent backline (and additional drums from Lars Finberg of The Intelligence on recent recordings) complete the frame in its entirety. Their energetic, sweat-laden shows coupled with their prolific recording schedule has garnered them a growing, dedicated fan base.
The catalog that this band has put together is growing and growing, albeit under several different monikers, and several different labels.
in 2017 it was announced that the band would change its name to simply 'Oh Sees'
in November of 2019, the band announced that they would be changing their name yet again to simply 'Osees'
Adult Acid
Thee Oh Sees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where's the face? it's on the ice, in the storage
Stay go at home or no. free coast. i had a dream
I saw it. white foam. all delicate and in the know
What's a home? it's for living in and it hides your head
Free coast. i had a dream, i saw it
The lyrics of Thee Oh Sees's "Adult Acid" seem to be exploring the concept of dreams and reality. The singer talks about an ace that they dream of and see, possibly representing a symbol of success or achievement. However, the face is on ice and in storage, suggesting that this reality may not be accessible or achievable.
The singer then mentions the idea of staying at home or leaving to the coast for freedom. They had a dream of the coast, which was delicate and knowledgeable with white foam. This could symbolize the desire for a peaceful and fulfilling life, possibly away from the chaos and noise of the city. The final line, "What's a home? it's for living in and it hides your head," highlights the contrast between the need for shelter and the desire for freedom and exploration.
Overall, this song seems to be exploring themes of the search for success and happiness, and the tension between staying in a comfortable but potentially limiting situation versus taking risks to achieve one's dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
There's an ace. i dream it, i see it
There's a winner, I imagine it and it becomes reality
Where's the face? it's on the ice, in the storage
Where is the visible identity? It's frozen and stored away
Stay go at home or no. free coast. i had a dream
Stay or leave home? Either choice leads to a liberated state. I had a vision
I saw it. white foam. all delicate and in the know
I witnessed it. Whiteness bubbling, refined and experienced
What's a home? it's for living in and it hides your head
What does home signify? A space for living in, and taking refuge
Free coast. i had a dream, i saw it
Unrestricted shoreline. I had a vision and saw it
Contributed by Wyatt N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.