Wooden Shjips - Self Titled

Wooden Shjips
Wooden Shjips
(09.2007, Holy Mountain)
6.5/10

Hype can get you into a lot of trouble. Voxtrot, for instance, seemed to be the perfect examples of hype as they released three solid EPs in a drawn out period awaiting their debut. Increasingly anticipated, once the album dropped the overwhelming expectation destroyed the mediocre album. Wooden Shjips are in the same boat. Having released two wonderful, limited edition vinyl releases (a 7" and 10") of blaring, sun-baked psych, the band seemed destined for a gloriously lauded debut. But alas, on their self titled debut they have lightened their sound and broken their previous promises. The hazy retro outfit’s extended jams have turned stale, lacking the previous buzz and rumble. The bands ancient 70's grit has also started to resemble, more than idly, The Doors. Simply add a lazy, slightly reverberated psych guitar to Morrison’s vocals and Manzarek’s keyboard and there you go. The potential here is still thrilling which makes the record all that much more disappointing. Not a terrible record by any means, but also not terribly exciting by any measure.

-Mr. Thistle

Wooden Shjips - "We Ask You To Ride" excerpt