"Tight" isn't a word that fits comfortably when describing Thee Oh Sees, but on Help, the second full-length effort from John Dwyer's garage psych marauders, the band has certainly learned to find order amidst chaos in a manner that eluded them on their 2008 debut The Master's Bedroom Is Worth Spending a Night In. The basic approach on Help isn't particularly different than on Thee Oh Sees' first effort -- the guitars are thick, ringing, and dripping with reverb and distortion, the rhythm section pounds away in a simple but relentless fashion, the massed vocals approximate vintage California-style harmonies in the midst of a trip on dirty acid, and the songs take traditional garage rock changes and bend them a wee bit as the production runs them through just enough low-budget studio trickery until they resemble a paisley nightmare oozing out of your speakers. Still, while most of the tunes on Help sound as purposefully messed up as ever, they're just a bit tidier and more straightforward here, and the stronger framework makes a positive difference. Similarly, the performances sound more unified and less chaotic here, as if everyone is following the same vision that lurks over the horizon for a change, and the ferocity of Dwyer's guitar is potent, locking into the crash-boom-bang of the bass and drums with impressive force. And while full-on assaults on reality like Enemy Destruct and Soda St. #1 are the order of the day on Help, there's enough of a pop lilt in Go Meet the Seed and Can You See? to confirm these folks saw some real nice colors while making this album and have a variety of tricks in their repertoire to express them. You might not trust Thee Oh Sees to give you a ride home after a gig, but if you're looking for a seriously buzzy rave-up, Help certainly delivers the goods. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

1		Enemy Destruct
2		Ruby Go Home
3		Meat Step Lively
4		A Flag In the Court
5		The Turn Around
6		Can You See
7		Rainbow
8		Go Meet the Seed
9		I Can't Get No
10		Soda St. #1
11		Destroyed Fortress Reappears
12		Peanut Butter Oven

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