Protean Threat

Protean Threat
Studio album by
Osees
ReleasedSeptember 18, 2020 (2020-09-18)
StudioThe Sonic Ranch
Genre
Length38:24
LabelCastle Face
Producer
Osees chronology
Face Stabber
(2019) 		Protean Threat
(2020) 		Metamorphosed
(2020)
Singles from Protean Threat
  1. "Dreary Nonsense"
    Released: July 28, 2020
  2. "If I Had My Way"
    Released: August 13, 2020
  3. "Scramble Suit II"
    Released: September 2, 2020
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Exclaim!7/10[2]
Under the Radar7.5/10[3]

Protean Threat is the twenty-third studio album by American garage rock band Osees, released on September 18, 2020, on Castle Face Records.[4] Following the band's previous album, double LP Face Stabber, frontman John Dwyer has said that he intended for Protean Threat to be much like a punk album, shorter in length and composed primarily of short songs.[5] It is the band's first full-length album to be released under the name Osees.

Background and release

In an apparent response to the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread cancellation of concerts, the band initially previewed the album in a rough form as a single take live rehearsal video that premiered on YouTube in March 2020, albeit with a different track order.[6]

Two tracks performed during the Protean Threat live rehearsal video but ultimately not included on the album were subsequently released elsewhere. “Dark Weald” came out as a limited edition lathe cut vinyl single on August 23, 2020, and was later released digitally. A cover of the Alice Cooper & The Spiders song “Don’t Blow Your Mind” then came out on the band’s Weirdo Hairdo EP, released December 18. 2020.

On December 11, 2020, Osees released Panther Rotate, a remix album featuring experimental reworkings of several tracks from Protean Threat.[7]

Tracks from Protean Threat were also performed as part of Osees' live recording and subsequent album Levitation Sessions, one of two pay-per-view streamed shows the band put on in 2020.[8]

Track listing

Protean Threat track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Scramble Suit II"2:27
2."Dreary Nonsense"1:34
3."Upbeat Ritual"2:11
4."Red Study"3:12
5."Terminal Jape"2:20
6."Wing Run"2:06
7."Said the Shovel"4:37
8."Mizmuth"2:09
9."If I Had My Way"2:47
10."Toadstool"4:56
11."Gong of Catastrophe"4:42
12."Canopnr '74"3:00
13."Persuaders Up!"2:23
Total length:38:24

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[9]

Osees

  • John Dwyer – guitar, vocals, synthesizers, mellotron, tape effects, percussion, samples, inner sleeve photo
  • Tim Hellman – bass
  • Tomas Dolas – keyboards
  • Dan Rincon – drums
  • Paul Quattrone – drums, space drum trigger

Technical personnel

  • Dylan Marcus McConnell – artwork
  • Enrique Tena Padilla – engineering, mixing
  • Mario Ramirez – engineering, mixing
  • JJ Golden – mastering
  • Matthew Jones – layout

References

  1. ^ a b "Osees/Thee Oh Sees: Protean Threat Review | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  2. ^ a b c "Osees' 'Protean Threat' Keeps John Dwyer's Hot Streak Impossibly Alive | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  3. ^ a b "Osees: Protean Threat | Under the Radar". undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
  4. ^ Strauss, Matthew (July 28, 2020). "Osees Announce New Album Protean Threat, Share New Song "Dreary Nonsense"". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  5. ^ Whittle, Nathan (November 23, 2020). "Osees' John Dwyer Interview: 'You should own your own art.'". Louder Than War. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  6. ^ Breihan, Tom (March 23, 2020). "Watch Oh Sees Play An Hour Of New Songs In An Empty Club". Stereogum. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  7. ^ Albertson, Jasmine (12 December 2020). "John Dwyer Breaks Down Every Track on Osees' New Album Panther Rotate (KEXP Exclusive)". KEXP.org. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  8. ^ Pears, Bill (November 18, 2020). "Osees announce new Big Sur streaming performance, share 'Voice In The Mirror'". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  9. ^ "Protean Threat – Osees/Thee Oh Sees | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved Sep 30, 2020.