Thee Oh Sees’ 2008 album, The Master’s Bedroom Is Worth Spending, although steeped in 60’s garage and psychedelia, had a feeling of not existing in a particular time or place. The band sounded like they played underground, possibly underwater. Though their new album, Help, offers a similar sound to their previous effort, it does seem that the band has at least come up for air.

Help sounds bigger and fuller, and the vocals, although still full of haunting reverb, are much more upfront. It’s not so much that they’ve softened or cleaned their sound as much as the band seems a bit more confident. Lyrically, the band alternates between love and looking into the distance with occasional forays into the unknown. But it really doesn’t matter because, up front or buried, it’s hard to make out what lead vocalist Jim Dwyer is even singing.

Musically, Help is not a great departure from Master’s Bedroom, but there are definite flourishes from time to time that indicate that Thee Oh Sees are willing to work outside of a strict garage model. “Meat Step Lively” contains a flute breakdown, and the poppy “Go Meet the Seed” has an extended ending with occasional electronic explosions. These new age flourishes give the album a sense of being lost in time. Yes, the band’s main influence comes from 60’s-era garage rock, but the added punchiness of the production plus the ghostly, shimmering vocals and watery guitar give Help it’s distinctness.

The previously mentioned “Go Meet the Seed” features a clean and almost radio friendly riff. Other songs chug along with dirtier riffs such as with “Ruby Go Home” or barely stay afloat with slower tempos, “A Flag in The Court,” that are reminiscent of those lazy Ringo Starr beats.

Help is a more consistent listen than Master’s Bedroom but doesn’t ever lose its strangeness. The album is not only a breathe of fresh air at the surface, but it features Thee Oh Sees at their most comfortable and consistent level to date.