Thursday, July 12, 2012

Dandy Warhols

Dandy Warhols
Fillmore, May 26th
“This Machine”
Release Date: April 24, 2012
The End Records

Sent several versions to Creative Loafing. God knows what they wanted.
(See link below, if necessary)




One of the best bands of the last decade (or two) has a new album. The Dandy Warhol’s appear Saturday, May 26 at the Fillmore in Charlotte, supporting new album “This Machine.” After 18 years together these Portland bohos are getting older and their new music casts an ironic, sarcastic, arch overview of life as they see it. Known for their hook filled, psychedelic guitar fueled thud, the Dandy’s created masterpieces like “Bohemian Like You”, “Not If You Were the Last Junkie On Earth” and “The Creep Out”. “This Machine”, hooky as ever, is somewhat stripped down but loaded with tunes, sudden turns and pleasant surprises.

Coming from Portland, the band oozes hipster cred. Band members and founders are Courtney Taylor-Taylor vocals and guitar and include fellow guitarist Pete Holmstrom, Zia McCabe on keys and joining the band a bit later, drummer Brent DeBoer.

It’s been said, the band started because their pals, “Needed music to drink to.” Speaking with guitarist Pete Holmstrom from his hometown of Portland, Pete said, “I take issue with that. That’s not quite right. It’s to meet other people to drink with. You know, people with similar musical tastes.” And how has it worked for them? “Yeah, still holds true.”

The new album “This Machine”, their eighth, in reality should have been called the “Dandy’s Come Down” because they really do. “Yes, we’re getting older”, Pete says. This from a group not afraid to keep its basic sound and style but comfortably experiments with new themes and lyrics. As an example the band does a heavy cover of Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “Sixteen Tons” featuring Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin on baritone sax, sounding like Morphine and Tennessee Ernie playing a San Francisco dive.

A song like “Rest Your Head” links to their earlier sounds but this album is a departure in that the songs have a more meditative, thoughtful feel. Tunes like “Autumn Carnival” and “Sad Vacation’ no more morose than their earlier “Last Junkie” tunes or “Nietzsche”, where they sang "I want a girl that stays dead, won’t play dead.” There are just more of them than before. Even a tune like “Enjoy Yourself” morphs into the ironic and cynical “Enjoy Your Health.” Offsetting these downers are up-tempo psychedelic blazers, “SETI vs. the Wow! Signal” and the playful electronic “Alternative Power to the People.”

Wearing their influences on their sleeves can be wearisome. But influences like Lou Reed and Ride - we can live with them. Maybe Tennessee Ernie Ford is a stretch but irony and originality works for me. Spiritualized, Nirvana and Neil Young? All positives but it really depends on the listener.

The Dandy’s created masterpieces like “Bohemian Like You,” “Boys Better” and “Horse Pills.” This one “This Machine,” has more thought and less thump, though still rocks. It’s leaner and not as strong as their early classics but still a keeper and still packs an ironic, post-modern punch. Hell, according to Courtney Taylor-Taylor they almost named it “The Pastor of Muppets”, “Shitty Shitty Band Band” or “Whirled Piece”. Be thankful for the little things.

http://clclt.com/charlotte/cd-review-dandy-warhols-this-machine/Content?oid=2728888

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