Mutilator Defeated at Last
by Thee Oh Sees
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
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  1. Mojo
    Jun 10, 2015
    80
    More confident that last year's transitional Drop, this new line-up's second album together finds Nick Murray's drumming busy and complex, but thrillingly so, lending sophistication to the band;s trademark trash-psych. [Jul 2015, p.91]
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  2. Magnet
    Jun 8, 2015
    80
    Mutilator continues Thee Oh Sees' unprecedented, mind-melting hot streak. [No. 121, p.61]
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  3. The Observer (UK)
    May 26, 2015
    80
    His ninth album as Thee Oh Sees has its fair share of songs that resemble long-lost Nuggets-era gems (Withered Hand and Rogue Planet are particularly bracing). But there is light and shade amid the trademark distortion.
  5. Tiny Mix Tapes
    May 21, 2015
    80
    Thee Oh Sees are keen students of both the restrictions and liberations of rock music, and therefore continue to thrive with the glad clutter that is reinforcement over renovation of their sound.
  6. AllMusic
    May 18, 2015
    80
    After Drop some might have expected Thee Oh Sees to continue to explore their softer side, Mutilator Defeated at Last confounds those expectations. Blows them up, really, in a giant fireball of guitars, noise, and psychedelic power.
  7. The Quietus
    May 14, 2015
    80
    This is garage rock yes, but not teeth grindingly basic 4-4, it's four to the forest floor, bouncing off the superfuzz pedal and rebounding into space, and from their multifarious albums, Mutilator Defeated At Last is undeniably a star.
  8. Uncut
    May 12, 2015
    80
    Mutilator is very much in the vein of a 2013's career-topping Floating Coffin. [Jun 2015, p.83]
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  9. New Musical Express (NME)
    May 12, 2015
    80
    The Californian five-piece’s 14th album packs everything they’re good at into one concentrated effort: frenetic rock, pulsating psychedelia and buoyant melodies.
  10. Pitchfork
    May 21, 2015
    78
    It sounds different from the old version of the band, but not that different.
  11. Austin Chronicle
    May 12, 2015
    78
    Nine albums in, the newly downsized trio rolls categorically mind-bending and noisy while sustaining creative novelty.
  12. The A.V. Club
    May 19, 2015
    75
    While not front-to-back pummeling, Mutilator Defeated At Last is fast and hard for much of its 33 minutes.
  13. Consequence
    May 12, 2015
    75
    Mutilator is a hulking beast that covers a great deal of distance--as much as any other Oh Sees album to date.
  14. Classic Rock Magazine
    Jul 13, 2015
    70
    A rather fine rock record indeed.

Awards & Rankings

94
#94 Best Album of 2015

User Reviews

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User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 28 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 28
  3. Negative: 1 out of 28
  1. jakfromrva
    Aug 30, 2018
    8
    Many welcome additions to the Oh Sees catalog. Best tracks are Sticky Hulks, Palace Doctor, Withered Hand, Web, Holy Smokes
  2. Custom_Concerns
    Jun 3, 2015
    7
    Thee Oh Sees have prolifically released multiple records over the past few years, each one being an exciting installment of noise rock,Thee Oh Sees have prolifically released multiple records over the past few years, each one being an exciting installment of noise rock, complete with memorable bass and guitar riffs, energetic vocals, and a whole heap of solos. Mutilator Defeated at Last does the exact same thing as their previous records...but boy, it sure does it well. I can't help but be pulled towards this album's immediacy: it is absolutely self-aware. Few rock bands can claim to be so consistent, and Thee Oh Sees have done it again. A bit more creativity and it would have been an 8/10 and a must-listen, but that doesn't stop Mutilator Defeated at Last from being really, really fun to listen to.… Full Review »
  3. dullurd
    Jun 1, 2015
    9
    I try to stay away from superlative statements. In this world of clickbait, we're barraged by claims that a given album, movie or game is "TheI try to stay away from superlative statements. In this world of clickbait, we're barraged by claims that a given album, movie or game is "The Best Ever", so I feel like those words have been almost entirely sapped of meaning.

    That said, this is already my favorite Oh Sees record of all time. I find it crisper, catchier and more consistent than all of their other albums. For my money, 4 or 5 tracks here are excellent, and the rest are a notch below, but still fun. Really, really, really pleased with this release. I've been listening to it quite a lot (Last.fm says I'm at 35 scrobbles for the past week) and I'm still not tired of it.    … Full Review »
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