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'
Stinking Cloud
Thee Oh Sees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Break up bunches of my time, undo crippling tedium
But it's dead, dead, dead to the top of its head
But it's dead, dead, dead to the top of its head
Take your time and defrost your mind you're wounded and bloody
Burning brightly and unsightly, an homage to human kind
But we're dead, dead, dead as I've already said
Constant struggle confused and muddled, that's what life can be
Walk in lightly, leave like lightning, find love along the way
Then you're dead, dead, finally lay down your head
Then you're dead, dead, finally lay down your head.
The song Stinking Cloud by Thee Oh Sees presents a fascinating idea of finding oneself as an individual amidst the chaos of life. The opening verse, "Pounce it heavy with a notion that you are the one, Break up bunches of my time, undo crippling tedium," suggests that the singer is commanding the listener to grab hold of life and assert themselves as the singer of their own story. The singer wants to break free from monotony and experience all that life has to offer.
In the second verse, the lyrics "Take your time and defrost your mind you're wounded and bloody, Burning brightly and unsightly, an homage to human kind," showcase the struggle that comes with breaking free from tedium. It speaks of the wounds that are inflicted upon oneself in order to live life to the fullest. This conflict between the desire for new experiences and the pain they bring is encapsulated in the line "But we're dead, dead, dead, as I've already said."
The final verse, "Constant struggle confused and muddled, that's what life can be, Walk in lightly, leave like lightning, find love along the way, Then you're dead, dead, finally lay down your head," shows the ultimate pursuit of peace in life. Despite the struggle, the singer encourages the listener to find love along the way and ultimately lay down their head in peace.
Overall, the song is about the pursuit of individualism and the struggle that comes with it. The lyrics paint a picture of one person's journey towards self-discovery, highlighting the difficulties and triumphs that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Pounce it heavy with a notion that you are the one
Attack your goals with conviction, believing that you have the ability to achieve them.
Break up bunches of my time, undo crippling tedium
Find ways to break up boredom and monotony to make the most of your time.
But it's dead, dead, dead to the top of its head
Whatever is being discussed or referred to is completely and utterly lifeless.
But it's dead, dead, dead to the top of its head
The same as the previous line: utter lifelessness.
Take your time and defrost your mind you're wounded and bloody
Give yourself a break and rest your mind, especially when you're feeling hurt or stressed.
Burning brightly and unsightly, an homage to human kind
Being vivid and noticeable, despite being ugly, is a tribute to the human experience.
But we're dead, dead, dead as I've already said
Life has ceased or become meaningless, as previously mentioned.
Dead, dead, dead as I've already said
The same as the previous line: lifelessness and lack of meaning.
Constant struggle confused and muddled, that's what life can be
Life can be difficult and challenging, often leaving us feeling disoriented and overwhelmed.
Walk in lightly, leave like lightning, find love along the way
Approach life with ease and gentleness, but be prepared to move quickly when necessary. And don't forget to look for love in your journey.
Then you're dead, dead, finally lay down your head
When life is over, it's over. All that's left to do is rest.
Then you're dead, dead, finally lay down your head
The same as the previous line: when life has ended, it's time to rest.
Contributed by William P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
DANSA BEATS
THE MADMAN FINALLY PLAYS THIS LIVE! Thank you!
This takes me back 10 years on a rainy birthday, had this song on repeat while having to play two local gigs. Good times.
Adrian Sullivan
Love it, I think John may be in his creative prime rn, what a crazy life
Joshua Miller
@Kevin Orrias Totally agree... I mean this song is from Castlemania and still sounds fresh af
Kevin Orrias
The dude will forever be in his prime. Just better and better every album.
Joshua Soria
wacky to see dwyer guitarless but i also love it
shuggie
i laughed when he started playing notes on the keyboard 😭😭
consciously
Doesn't know what to do with his hands! Luckily there's keyboards
Kevin B
@Total Garbage lol yeah, he almost looks uncomfortable
Total Garbage
Also just holding a mic like he’s doing karaoke
Geoffrey Carr
No guitar and no shorts... definitely a rare sight...