Wooden Shjips

The Profile

Wooden Shjips are an American psychedelic rock band formed in San Francisco in 2006, led by guitarist/vocalist Ripley Johnson. Known for minimalist, kraut-influenced grooves, fuzzed guitars, and organ drones, they’ve released albums on labels including Thrill Jockey, with later activity based out of Portland.

Influences and touchpoints cited in reviews include Velvet Underground, The Doors, NEU!, Spacemen 3, Loop, Can, Stooges, and Suicide. West was released on Thrill Jockey. Reviews note a hypnotic, circular, lo-fi approach with shamanic vocals and garage/Doors-style organ. Studio albums include Wooden Shjips (2007), Dos (2009), West (2011), Back To Land (2013), and V. (2018). The band originated in San Francisco and later worked out of Portland.

DeBaser’s reviews paint Wooden Shjips as hypnotic minimalists: fuzzed guitars, circular kraut rhythms, and organ drones under Ripley Johnson’s shamanic murmur. The debut impressed with concise, narcotic jams; Dos split opinions with monolithic trance; West refined the formula on Thrill Jockey; Back To Land brightened edges in Portland days; V. stretched the hammock-psych daydream.