Memory of a Cut off Head

OCS - Memory of a Cut off Head
Critic Score
Based on 15 reviews
2017 Ratings: #691 / 940
User Score
Based on 35 ratings
Liked by 2 people
November 17, 2017 / Release Date
LP / Format
Castle Face / Label
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CRITIC REVIEWS

84
Paste

Pretty and understated throughout ... Head commutes between pastoral, homestead-y compositions that sound like landscape paintings, and the dreamy baroque-pop of 1960s vanguards.

80
AllMusic

Dwyer and co-conspirator Brigid Dawson take a step away from the pounding power of the Oh Sees in favor of something hazily psychedelic and expansive, a little bit folky and rustic, with every nook and cranny filled by a wide array of instruments meticulously arranged into something that would make the Incredible String Band sit up and take notice

80
DIY

Delicate, enchanting, and altogether intangible, ‘Memory Of A Cut Off Head’ is a venture into the unexpected.

75
A.V. Club

Although Memory Of A Cut Off Head might benefit from some more garage-rock grit and aggression here and there, its manicured tranquility leaves a lasting impression.

75
The 405

It’s not a raucous garage rock party, going in a much folkier direction with plenty of beautiful orchestral instrumentation, such as harpsichord, strings, and woodwinds. Though the sound is more subdued and the instrumentation is often picturesque, this is by no means a bucolic album.

70
The Line of Best Fit

This time around, the volume is dialled down and the reverb restrained, their usual brand of face-melting fretwork traded in for a folkier style.

65
Pitchfork

Memory of a Cut Off Head essentially leaves the amps at home. Instead, it reverses hard into baroque, acoustic, and otherwise more delicate songs of a softer, slower psychedelic vein. The intensity, much like the spelling, is reduced by 70%.

60
The Skinny

While an intriguing return to Dwyer's roots and to Dawson's charming voice, Memory of a Cut Off Head is a typically strange experience from OCS and one which might not translate to newer fans of the band looking for their trademark psyche-punk sound.

Crostian
86

¡Genial!
Me sorprende esta producción, suave, lenta, no le sobra ni le falta ningún tema, la producción es impecable, rítmica mente y metódicamente es fantástico. Un poquito de folk, un poquito de jazz, un poquito de psicodelia, letras no tan complicadas y disfrutables. Además que es lo último de Brigid Dawson con John, cosa que lo hace aún más especial, y John se lució con su trabajo vocal acá, canta ... read more

Mugweld
71

osees marathon might end today if i power through everything left

honestly a nice surprise to hear a folk record in the midst of all the psych rock albums. i think there are some great moments on this one and ideas that they havent explored on previous albums. that being said this one did lose me a little towards the end but even still id say it was a decent listen.

Blargg
73

It's alright. A little too understated for it's own good, but that's also what I come to it for strangely enough.

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Added on: August 28, 2017