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'
Flash Bats
Thee Oh Sees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We are seldom spinning stories of love
The lyrics of Thee Oh Sees's song Flash Bats suggest a feeling of discomfort and fear from a prolonged stay in one place. The use of the word "spooked" implies a sense of unease, while the phrase "sitting here all night" emphasizes the duration of the stay. The second line, "We are seldom spinning stories of love," suggests a lack of personal connections or meaningful interactions. The phrase "spinning stories" implies an attempt to create meaning or engagement, but the use of the word "seldom" suggests that this effort is often unsuccessful. These two lines in combination create a sense of isolation and detachment, suggesting a feeling of being trapped both physically and emotionally.
Line by Line Meaning
I am spooked from sitting here all night
I feel uneasy and scared after staying up all night in this place.
In a cold but comfy fright I'll fly
I feel a mix of fear and comfort, but I'll still run away from here.
Is there ever time to say what's on your mind?
Do we ever really have the opportunity to express our thoughts and feelings?
Well, line's behin' me now, so don't you be unkind
I've moved past that thought, so please don't say anything mean or hurtful.
Yeah, leave it behind, it's only trapped in your mind
Let go of your worries and fears, they're only holding you back in your own thoughts.
You're out of line, well, it's out of my mind
You're wrong about something, but it doesn't matter to me anymore.
Flash, bats, eyes like threats
Images of danger, fear, and violence, represented by flashing bats with scary eyes.
Running sideways, never getting straight
Trying to avoid confrontations and problems by moving in other directions, but never really facing them head on.
But in my head, oh, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Even though I'm trying to avoid these issues, they are still playing out in my mind in a darkly humorous way.
Oh, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, oh
Continuation of the dark humor and inner turmoil that the artist is experiencing.
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Repeating the previous lines with a sense of resignation or acceptance.
Contributed by Henry S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.