Intercepted Message
2023 studio album by Osees
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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] The release has been given positive reviews by critics.
| 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 | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception
| 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 scored 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, 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 given for a band that moves fast and jumps from one subgenre micro-era to the next".[6]
Track listing
| 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" (originally by Blurt) | 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. | "Opus No. 1" (a.k.a. "LADWP Hold") | 2:01 |
| Total length: | 41:19 | |
Personnel
Osees
- John Dwyer – guitar, vocals, synthesizers, percussion, assorted electronics, production, mixing
- Tim Hellman – bass guitar
- Tomas Dolas – keyboards, cello
- Dan Rincon – drums, percussion
- Paul Quattrone – drums, percussion, electric claps
Additional contributors
- JJ Golden – mastering
- Eric Bauer – mixing, engineering
- Mike Kriebel – mixing, engineering
- Elizaveta Boldyreva – engineering, violin
- Brad Caulkins – tenor saxophone
- Wes Greaves – artwork
- Jon Krop – layout
Charts
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[8] | 89 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[9] | 17 |