Oshin (album) explained

Oshin is the debut studio album by American rock band DIIV, released on June 26, 2012, by Captured Tracks.^[1] The album was produced by frontman Zachary Cole Smith.

Composition

Regarding the album's aesthetic and lyrical content, in comparison to its follow-up, Is the Is Are (2016), frontman Zachary Cole Smith reflected: "[''Oshin''] was hiding a bit behind an image, behind a sound – the vocals being really textural, and a sort of ambient thing. I didn't want it to be about me as a person. The lyrics were almost like universal truths, not personal."^[2]

Release

In 2014, Oshin was briefly out of print due to legal issues regarding the original cover art. It was reissued in June 2015 with new artwork.^[3]

Reception

Critic Ian Cohen of Pitchfork said, "Oshin isn't just a gorgeous and unusually melodic dream pop record; it's an interesting experiment in whether a band based on voice/guitar/bass/drums can rely on the guitar to carry the song's meaning".

On lists of the top 50 albums of 2012, Oshin was listed 22nd by Stereogum and 40th by Pitchfork.^[4] In 2018, Pitchfork listed Oshin at number 26 on its list of the 30 best dream pop albums.^[5]

Track listing

All tracks written and produced by Zachary Cole Smith.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Oshin.^[6]

DIIV

• Devin Ruben Perez
• Andrew Bailey
• Zachary Cole Smith
• Colby Hewitt III

Additional musicians

• Ben Wolf (Ben Newman) – drums

Technical

• Daniel James Schlett – recording, mixing
• Nico Testa – engineering assistance
• Zachary Cole Smith – production

Artwork

• Kiakshuk – cover illustration
• Kopapik Qaqyuarqyuk – back cover illustration
• Simeonie Kopapik – liner illustration
• Sandy Kim – band photo

Charts

Chart performance for Oshin

Chart (2012)	Peak position
UK Record Store Albums (OCC)[7]	27
US Top Current Albums (Billboard)[8]	158

Notes and References

1. Web site: Minsker . Evan . Stream DIIV's Debut LP, Oshin . . June 18, 2012 . July 25, 2017.
2. Web site: Finamore . Emma . Lost/Found: DIIV Interviewed . . January 20, 2016 . February 9, 2016.
3. Web site: Hudson . Alex . DIIV's 'Oshin' Treated to New Vinyl Pressing . . June 23, 2015 . July 25, 2017.
4. Web site: Stereogum's Top 50 Albums Of 2012 . . December 5, 2012 . April 24, 2018 . 1.
5. Web site: The 30 Best Dream Pop Albums . Pitchfork . April 16, 2018 . April 24, 2018 . 1.
6. Oshin . liner notes . . . 2012 . CT-158.
7. Web site: Official Record Store Chart Top 40 . . July 22, 2012 . October 11, 2018.
8. DIIV Chart History (Current Album Sales) . . May 20, 2020.