Review Summary: Stepping away a bit from the synths the Dandys returned to their previous guitar-driven style and created a mash up of neo-psychedelia-meets electronic music. In theory this should be an interesting output, yet the result doesn't sound as good as they tho
Stepping away a bit from the synths the Dandys returned to their previous guitar-driven style and created a mash up of neo-psychedelia-meets electronic music. In theory this should be an interesting output, yet the result doesn't sound as good as they thought.
After the odd intro, a parody of the Dandy Warhols, treating them like legends of rock'n'roll I was hyped for a really entertaining listen. Unfortunately, the first song on the album , the 9-minute 'Love Is The New Feel Awful', really overstays its welcome. The first half is great, Courtney's high pitched voice goes well with the thick layer of guitars, however the last 5 minutes are just feedback and random soloing over the same beat. Even though 'Easy' follows a similar recipe, it fares better: the groovy bass and whispered vocals are cool and the jazzy coda with asylum screams are easily one of the band's craziest moments.
'All The Money Or The Simple Life Honey' is the first highlight of the album sounds good and it's catchy. The hippie attitude and jangly guitars remind of
Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia, only a bit more polished. Also, 'The New Country' sounds like a follow up to 'Country Leaver', off the same record. It's a catchy track but it doesn't quite fit on
Odditorium. After 2 psychedelic songs at about 9 minutes long this short one is thrown there like a little break before the next songs.
Despite its length, ''Holding Me Up'' is worth listening to as its pastoral sound complete with warm vocals are a real treat to the fans, while the second half's camp fire sing along goes on for almost 4 minutes. Even though it could've been successfully trimmed into a 5 minute song, it doesn't necessarily drag the album down. The next track is undoubtedly the best song on the album and Top 5 Dandy Warhols. 'Everyone Is Totally Insane' has a deeper, more electronic sound akin to
Welcome To The Monkey House. It's more of a comedown tale where Courtney admits he's not the same young, careless character he often portrayed himself like. He sings: ''I have toiled and I have tamed , constricted and constrained just to learn about how everyone is totally insane now. I am old and I am lame and ruthlessly estranged. Ask me then what I have gained from almost everyone oh oh''. Even if this is an exaggerated affirmation, it shows a more mature side of his that's truly welcomed.
After this, things continue the ups and downs. The lead single of the album 'Smoke It' is a slower tempo remake of Hives' hit 'Hate To Say I Told You So'. Taylor gives a country feel but the riffs still sound almost the same. 'Down Like Disco' is a highlight and the album's rocker, sounding as hard and playful as 'Horse Pills'. The incoherent lyrics are funny and Courtney's high voice fits the song. Still, this one can't make up for the terrible finale. 'A Loan Tonight' ruins any pleasure you got from the few songs on the album that are worth listening to. The vocals sounds like a bad hangover after the night the band partied and did drugs with Otis and the droning riffs don't help at all.
Overall,
Odditorium lacks the consistency of their previous two gems. There are a few tracks that live up to the hype and a half that does not only sound half baked, but sometimes even feels lazy. Maybe it's a response to their label's waning lack of interest on their output, or maybe a try to take their psychedelic roots to the forefront. The DIG documentary may have kept their momentum going, but this album feels like The Dandys turning their back on fame and mainstream.
