The second OCS album appeared in the spring of 2004 and firmly established the freak-folk sound that would define the project for the next several years. 2 also featured, for the first time, actual songs with discernable lyrics, making it a more accessible work than its predecessor. That is not to say it forsakes the strangeness of the first album: 2 remains musically off-kilter and sonically spare. At this point OCS was still very much not a band, amounting to little more than JPD's acoustic home-recording hobby on the side while he was busy with his other commitments. The only other credited performer who appears at all on this record is Chiara Giovando, who contributed violin to the first version of "Bisbee" (track 13). The somewhat more realized arrangements of later OCS/Ohsees albums are not yet in evidence here, and of course the garage-rock that comes to mind when most people think of Thee Oh Sees will come way later. Though it is far removed from later works, 2 is nevertheless a quaint, charming little record that hosts some gems, among them a cover of Pink Floyd's "Fearless"! It's also the first OCS record I can imagine recommending to people who aren't hardcore, dyed-in-the-wool Dwyer obsessives: fans of early Animal Collective and Neutral Milk Hotel's first album may find this one worth their while.
1. So I Guess We Can't Hang Out (2:56)
2. untitled (2:02)
3. untitled (2:05)
4. Mike D (1:31)
5. Banjo, Sold for Rent (1:35)
6. Killed Yourself (2:28)
7. You Are 16, I Am High (1:28)
8. untitled (2:04)
9. 608C (1:36)
10. Left Me Dry (2:34)
11. untitled (1:38)
12. Intermission (2:46)
13. Bisbee (with Chiara Giovando on violin) (2:27)
14. Fretting and Fussing (3:05)
15. I Would Drown in Regret (2:16)
16. untitled (2:09)
17. No Bitches on This Train (1:49)
18. Bisbee 2 (2:31)
19. untitled (2:58)
20. Fearless (secret track not listed on original CD release) (4:14)
21. Our Lovesong (2:00)
22. JPD, a Young Man, Tells Goldylox Thanksss (4:06)
Narnack Records Bandcamp page: the tracklist here is erroneous. The last three songs have been renamed and switched around; "Fearless" is listed as "Our Lovesong", and "Our Lovesong" (retitled "JPD, A Young Man, Tells") and "JPD, a Young Man..." (shortened to "Goldylox") have swapped places.
Apple Music; the record is also listed on Spotify, but it is currently unavailable there. The Narnack Bandcamp release's track order issues do not appear on these versions, but the titles of the songs still don't quite agree with how they were listed on the CD.
Archived listing on Narnack Records' website, May 2004: courtesy of the Wayback Machine.
OCS 2 on Discogs: the original 2004 CD remains the album's sole physical release as of 2024.