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DANDY WARHOLS
Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia (Capitol)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson
The Dandies are alive and well. Rumors of their demise, fueled by a three year absence, turn out to have just been rumors after all, and Thirteen Tales turns out to be the most cohesive and focused of their three albums to date. All the elements that draw their fans are present: haunting hooks in the distance, choruses just far enough out there in the hearing range that the words -- and, one assumes, their message -- are open for interpretation, plenty of ethereal sounds around every corner all nailed to the song by acoustic guitars that jangle without inappropriate joy.
The country curve balls are still crossing the plate from time to time, as well. "Country Leaver" retains just enough Dandyatmosphere to make it all theirs while the sliding dobros and handclaps send you down the country back roads. They segue out of that with a song called "Solid" that is a fantastic little tune that Lou Reed apparently forgot to write. For the most part they've left the grunge thing behind (save for the driving segments of "Horse Pills"), cleaning up the guitar tones a bit for "Bohemian Like You," which is at once the poppiest and most sarcastic tale of the thirteen. "Shakin'" is very likable, but I also really liked "The Dangerous Type," by The Cars, which "Shakin'" reminds me a little too much of.
The album closes with a pair of unexpected tunes; "Big Indian," a powerful ballad with a molten lead guitar line that raises welts with goose bumps on 'em, and "The Gospel," one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in ages. I have no idea why they took three years to make this CD, or whether they were working on it over that period or doing other projects, but I do know that the song writing has sharpened a great deal in that time. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a new CD next year, and although Thirteen Tales is a mighty fine release, I suspect the Dandy Warhols haven't done their best yet.
© 2001 - DJ Johnson