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09/09/08 First Avenue - MPLS, MN
Discography
09/10/08 Barrymore - Madison, WI 09/12/08 Vic Theater - Chicago, IL 09/13/08 Kool Haus - Toronto, ON 09/14/08 Club Soda - Montréal, QB 09/16/08 Wilbur Theatre -� Boston, MA 09/17/08 Terminal 5 - NYC New York 09/20/08 TLA - Philly, PA 09/22/08 9:30 Club, Washington DC 09/23/08 Center Stage - Atlanta, GA 09/24/08 Mercy Lounge Nashville, TN 09/26/08 Liberty Hall - Lawrence, KA 09/27/08 Gothic Theater - Denver, CO 09/28/08 Belly Up - Aspen, CO 10/01/08 Belly Up - Solana Beach, CA 10/03/08 The Wiltern - L.A., CA 10/04/08 Warfield - S.F. , CA 10/05/08 Roseland - PDX, OR 10/28/08 Metro City - Perth Australia 10/31/08 Enmore Theatre - OMG HALLOWEEN!! Sydney 11/01/08 Stonefest - University of Canberra Canberra 11/02/08 Fat As Butter Festival - Newcastle, New South Wales 11/05/08 Tivoli - Brisbane 11/06/08 Palace - Melbourne, Victoria
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I have Portland, Oregon's The Dandy Warhols' first three albums, plus miscellaneous singles, which probably classify me as an "old" fan, as I will confess I have not kept up with the band post-Welcome to the Monkey House. Last Tuesday marked the band's eight album, ...Earth to the Dandy Warhols... (if you count the double-album The Black Album with Come On Feel the The Dandy Warhols)! What's important about this album is that this is their first album that they've released on Beat the World Records (their own label?), since leaving major label Capitol Records.
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Having listened to the album last Tuesday (and continuing listening it to today), I have concluded that Courtney Taylor-Taylor is on heavy medication.
Where are the anthem catchy all-rock ("Bohemian Like You" - that "whoo ooh ooh" song while you hold your cup of beer in the air), feel-good rock song ("Not if You Were the Last Junkie on Earth", I know, so passé), or that familiar synthy pop song ("We Used to Be Friends") or heavy guitar-driven epics ("It's a Fast-Driving Rave-Up" - that 15 plus minutes song that just doesn't want to stop)?
Maybe they were already heading to this low psychedelic music that is ...Earth to the Dandy Warhols... anyway? Is this evolution/devolution good? Probably not for old fans of the Dandys, looking to score that beer-drinking guitar rock song ... and maybe that's a good thing for both parties.
The most "rocking" song on here is the opening song, "The World Come On", which started off as a loop from the last track "Musee D' Nougat", an instrumental narrative. The falsetto vocals on "The World Come On" didn't really make a whole lot of sense to me, as I can't understand what's being sung. I know there is a lot of "awwwh" being thrown around in the song.
I will admit that Taylor-Taylor's vocals seems more (what's the word?) mature (?) on this album. He does sound like his throat's experienced a lot of whiskey on "Mission Control" and "The Legend of the Last of the Outlaw Truckers AKA The Ballad of Sheriff Shorty". It sounds growly and almost boorish.
"Love Song" is probably going to be their hit-single off this album. The song guest-star Dire Straits's Mark Knopfler and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' Mike Campbell and it sounded like a pretty good poppy song with lots of banjo picking.
My favorite song off this album is "Now You Love Me". I think it would make for a great live song, especially if they play up the feedback distortion towards the end of the song. Speaking of which, it looks like the band is heading out on tour - starting with Minneapolis, of course. I've seen the band before in Minnesoter and I asked someone at the show why they play here to often. The answer I was told was that Taylor was seeing someone who lives here. It sounds like a good, plausible answer to me.
So, Dandy Warhols, welcome back to Earth.
UPDATE: DIG! film features the Dandy Warhols, you can watch it free in its entirety at snagfilms.com
You can also read more about it on our site.w♥m.
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