The Dandy Warhols Come Down
Before the Dandy Warhols received mainstream popularity with one of their singles from Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia being used in a UK television ad campaign, they had two albums under their belt and were in ‘almost popular’ territory. A result of record company pressure to produce a follow-up to their debut The Dandy Warhols Rule OK, The Dandy Warhols Come Down has a more atmospheric and experimental sound than the more recent material. Recorded at a frantic pace following a false start (the recordings for the ‘Black Album’ being very hard to find), it combines ambient harmonies, radio-friendly hooks and sharp, quirky lyrics.
The first track, Be-In fades in with reverb-laden guitars and keyboards before a fuzz guitar line kicks in, followed by Courtney Taylor’s almost whispered vocals. It sets the tone for everything that follows, consisting of layers of catchy melodies to create an atmosphere in which the listener can completely immerse themselves. The individual tracks are mixed to flow effortlessly into one another, preventing the contrasting upbeat feel of Boys Better and the folk-influenced Minnesoter feeling out of place.
While it is clearly intended to be listened to as a complete record, …Come Down has a number of standout songs, including the foot-tapping Not if You Were The Last Junkie on Earth (which shows their lyrical abilities to be outstanding when they put their minds to it), Every Day Should be a Holiday in which the guitars and synths are blended to great effect, and Cool As Kim Deal, a tribute to the Pixies bassist.
One or two songs don’t work quite as well, such as the instrumental Pete International Airport which goes precisely nowhere musically in its entire duration and isn’t overly melodic either. The closing track, The Creep Out, in contrast maintains the vibe of the opening tune and makes for a pleasant and ambient conclusion to a solid and competently-recorded album.
In Summary
More professional-sounding than their debut and filled with the layers of psychodelic, infectious melodies that would eventually give them the commercial recognition they deserve, …Come Down is probably their strongest album. Sit back, press ‘play’ and enjoy.
Tracklisting
- Be-In
- Boys Better
- Minnesoter
- Orange
- I Love You
- Not If You Were The Last Junkie on Earth
- Every DAy Should Be a Holiday
- Good Morning
- Whipping Tree
- Green
- Cool As Kim Deal
- Hard On For Jesus
- Pete International Airport
- The Creep Out
Leave a Reply