| Intercepted Message | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 18, 2023 | |||
| Genre | Synth-rock [1] | |||
| Length | 41:19 | |||
| Label | In the Red | |||
| Producer | John Dwyer | |||
| Osees chronology | ||||
| ||||
Intercepted Message is the twenty-seventh studio album by American garage rock band Osees, released on August 18, 2023, by In the Red Records. [2]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 84/100 [3] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| The Arts Desk |   [1] |
| Hot Press | 7/10 [4] |
| Loud and Quiet | 5/10 [5] |
| Pitchfork | 6.9/10 [6] |
| Riff Magazine | 8/10 [7] |
Intercepted Message received a score of 84 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on four critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [3] Edwin McFee of Hot Press called it "a fun romp down memory lane, from a band who refuse to remain in one place for too long" and concluded that "while not everything hits the mark, Intercepted Message is still an enjoyable chapter in the group's storied career". [4] Joe Muggs, reviewing the album for The Arts Desk , described it as "an extremely simple record. It is big, stomping, party-monster neanderthal synth-rock" with "no new sounds [...]: the structures are classic garage punk, [and] the synthesisers' growl and squeal sounds like some jerry-rigged setup from the 1970s". [1] David Gill of Riff Magazine wrote that the album "tempers the lo-fi punk energy of 2022's Metamorphosed with synthesizers and silliness" and "some of the songs offer obvious, new influences". [7] Guia Cortassa of Loud and Quiet called it "a pity that [Dwyer's] bombastic promises were not kept in the music. However tight and uptempo they may be, in fact, the 12 tracks sound tired and knackered almost from the beginning". [5] Pitchfork 's Evan Minsker wrote that "from synth pop to new wave to disco, the shapeshifting rock band goes all in on its keyboard album", but concluded that "the threads that bind these songs are loose and inconsistent, which might be a given for a band that moves fast and jumps from one subgenre micro-era to the next". [6]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Stunner" | 2:44 |
| 2. | "Blank Chems" | 4:15 |
| 3. | "Intercepted Message" | 3:26 |
| 4. | "Die Laughing" | 4:10 |
| 5. | "Unusual & Cruel" | 3:22 |
| 6. | "The Fish Needs a Bike" | 3:17 |
| 7. | "Goon" | 2:12 |
| 8. | "Chaos Heart" | 2:46 |
| 9. | "Submerged Building" | 2:49 |
| 10. | "Sleazoid Psycho" | 3:09 |
| 11. | "Always at Night" | 7:03 |
| 12. | "LADWP Hold" | 2:01 |
| Total length: | 41:19 | |
Osees
Additional contributors
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC) [8] | 89 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) [9] | 17 |
Osees are an American rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1997, now based in Los Angeles, California. Originally the solo recording project of John Dwyer, the band has evolved through numerous line-up and name changes since its founding, with Dwyer serving as the band leader and primary songwriter throughout. The group's sound draws from a wide variety of influences, including garage rock, krautrock, psychedelia, and folk music. Osees are noted for their prolific recording output, energetic live shows, and whimsical visual aesthetic.
John Dwyer is an American multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, visual artist and record label owner. He is best known as the founding member and primary songwriter of the garage rock band Osees, with whom he has released 23 studio albums. In addition to his work with Osees, Dwyer records solo material under the name "Damaged Bug". From 2020-2021, Dwyer released several improvisation-based records with a rotating collective of different artists, including "Bent Arcana", "Witch Egg", "Endless Garbage", "Moon Drenched" and "Gong Splat". He is also a former member of the garage rock acts Coachwhips, Pink and Brown and The Hospitals.
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