Experimental to the last
Who would guess that The Dandy Warhols were already storming their way through the music industry with their 5th album? After the release of their biggest seller, 'Welcome To The Monkey House' two years ago, they've refined a more experimental sound.
The first track is actually a verbal introduction to the new sounds and directions in the album. The second track, 'Love Is The New Feel Awful', in title and contents proves their worth on the prog/ experimental side, stretching on for some 8 minutes with its lithe rock n' roll guitars and whispered vocals beneath pulsating synths. This is handy as you can go away and answer your phone or emails and when you return the track will still be churning out indie beats, however the length doesn't do much for the strength of the track; it becomes strung out and repetitive to some degree.
Once track three, 'Easy' finally arrives, it swaggers along with a lazy beat and walking bass adorned with Courtney Taylor-Taylor's softly spoken lyrics. For me 'Easy' is a little too easygoing to keep my interest and stick in my mind, it does eventually explode into a jazzy cacophony of brass and guitar but a little too late for some. But it is indeed, nice to see The Dandy Warhols playing with structure and not choosing the instant success in a packet route that another 'Bohemian Like You' would provide.
'All The Money Or The Simple Life Honey' finally breaks free of the preceeding synth odysseys and returns to more traditional rock territory, starting with some very tinny, but tuneful brass and pithy acoustic guitar. 'The New Country' not surprisingly takes a big slice of country guitar and buzzes along merrily like a sunny day in Texas.
Stand out track, 'Holding Me Up' melds ringing indie guitars with Taylor-Taylor's softly grinding vocals in a convincing and catchy tune. Breezy synths twinkle over the light, melodic guitar chords. 'Everyone Is Totally Insane' is a tense tune hidden beneath a rhythmic synth pattern that builds up the electronic angst. These latter tracks almost turn the album around for me, bringing forth some great songwriting.
Lead single, 'Smoke It' is a big stomping bluesy rock number with, what sounds like some redneck country girls adding their approval in the backing vocals. It storms along with a rock solid dirty chorus that's easy to get into and could be a big americana hit. 'Down Like Disco' enforces a barrage of hungry electric guitars and driving tune, which continues the buoyant feel of this latter part of the album.
The creativity of 'Odditorium Or Warlords Of Mars' reflects that of The Dandy Warhols' namesake, but somehow loses some of the momentum of their previous successes as it mingles the less defined experimental tracks with the traditional rock tunes. I guess it's far better to produce a unique album than one that merely fits the pop-mould, but some of the tracks on this album make it feel a little patchy.