Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Negative: 0 out of 13
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  1. Mar 15, 2012
    89
    This John Dwyer-led, San Francisco collective's jagged psych-punk has always been ear catching, but this ups the ante.
  2. Nov 29, 2011
    83
    The music is equally scattered, slapdash, and frantic. It's also brilliant.
  3. Nov 16, 2011
    82
    Mission deliciously accomplished, sir.
  4. Dec 7, 2011
    80
    Carrion Crawler/The Dream captures the band in psychedelic bulldozer mode instead, delivering ten blistering cuts at a furious pace.
  5. Uncut
    Nov 23, 2011
    80
    This is a colorful mix of styles, filled with feedback, mangled solos and manic vocals, and rocking like The Cramps on a good night. [Dec 2011, p.100]
  6. Nov 22, 2011
    80
    Carrion Crawler/The Dream could very well be born from a desire to please crowds as easily as it could be Dwyer wanting to craft jams as musical meditation.
  7. Nov 22, 2011
    80
    Short blasts of distortion leave their mark throughout the album, guitar tones evoking the image of exploding paint cans in a mid-size room, adding to the unruly spirit of the band's albums and live sets.
  8. Nov 16, 2011
    80
    Although it would break the needle on the bizarre meter for a more conventional band, Carrion Crawler/The Dream is a pretty straightforward release in the world of Thee Oh Sees.
  9. Nov 16, 2011
    80
    Diehards and newbies alike will revel in its weird, wild well-roundedness.
  10. Nov 16, 2011
    80
    The band have created an effort that digs its way into the listener's ears through an honest approach.
  11. Nov 17, 2011
    77
    A well-crafted doorway into Thee Oh Sees' lovely DIY funhouse, and leave your rock 'n' roll expectations at the giant lips-shaped entrance.
  12. Nov 21, 2011
    72
    The album takes a while to get going and figure out what it wants to do, but diving into Thee Oh Sees' world reveals one of their better efforts yet.
  13. Nov 22, 2011
    60
    It's a well recorded, well played effort, and it nestles into genre expectation very nicely. But weirdly, with one extremely notable exception, the songs are predictable and average.

Awards & Rankings

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. Sep 14, 2013
    8
    Never lets you settle, rarely are 2 tracks in succession similar to one another. The Austin chronicle called it "Jagged Psych-Punk" and whilstNever lets you settle, rarely are 2 tracks in succession similar to one another. The Austin chronicle called it "Jagged Psych-Punk" and whilst I usually hate people coining their own terms for music, that is a spot-on description of ultra-prolific Thee Oh Sees' music. Definitely worth a purchase, as with all of their albums. Full Review »