Wooden Shjips

V.

BY Jenna MohammedPublished May 22, 2018

5
Psychedelic rockers Wooden Shjips have been under the radar since the release of Back to Land in 2013 and now return with new album V. Deeply zoned-out, overlapping delayed guitars, and a relaxed vibe make V. worth checking out, but it never makes the leap from easy listening to energetic.
 
Bright backwards psychedelic guitar reels are the strong aspect of the album; "Red Line" and "Staring At the Sun" have just that, but Wooden Shjips take a softer, more meditative approach than what we are used to hearing. The effort to break away from their hasty sound is refreshing, but the more easy-going, smooth style projected on all of V. makes the experience generic, underwhelming and stagnant. The majority of the album feels like a bad trip and you're just waiting for it to end.
 
If you manage to make it to the last track, you're rewarded with the strong send-off "Ride On," which stands out for its slow tempo, drawn-out vocals and dreamy guitar.
 
V. never rises above space rock, making the album feel like any other '60s hippie/psychedelic record. It's adequate, but when you can easily predict how it's going to play out, you're never left wanting more.
(Thrill Jockey)

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