...The Dandy Warhols Come Down

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The Dandy Warhols

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Before 2000's "Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia" came out and had Dandy Warhols songs in TV ads for everything from Michelob beer to Nissan automobiles to pretty much everything else, "Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth" was winning accolades as being one of the most entertaining videos to run on MTV since the glory days of Russell Mulcahy's work with Duran Duran, "Boys Better" was spicing up the soundtrack to "Good Will Hunting" and "Every Day Should Be A Holiday" was adding a touch of class to "There's Something About Mary" (admittedly not so difficult to do).

"The Dandy Warhols Come Down" marks Portland, Oregon's most enigmatic (yet sonically accessible) band's major-label debut with Capitol/EMI, and considering the massive wave of neo-psychedelic indie-pop that flooded the music industry in 1997 (not in the least among the stand-outs being Cornershop's "When I Was Born For The th Time" and Primal Scream's masterpiece "Vanishing Point"), it is probably understandable that "...Come Down" managed to slip beneath the radar of most music fans. However, those who have made the effort to experience this CD are seldom regretfull for doing so. From the dreamy and extended introduction of "Be-In" (the song used to open most Dandys live shows to this day) to the experimental soundscapes of "Pete International Airport" and "The Creep-Out" there are a vaiety of trippy grooves and joyful summertime pop tunes, including the afforementioned pop hookfests "...Last Junkie...", "Boys Better", "...Holiday", as well as the aural equivalent of a flower opening its bloom and facing the sun, "Good Morning" and the name-dropping hipster chic of "Cool As Kim Deal".

Just to prove it's not all about catchy pop songs, the Dandys can navel/shoe-gaze with the best of 'em with songs like the two-chord simplicity of "I Love You" (surely one of the most honest love songs ever written), the Sergio Leone/Ennio Morricone-inspired "Whipping Tree", which segues not quite seamlessly into "Green"...as well as "Orange", arguably the first great song to be written (and performed?) under the influence of a bottle of Ny-Quil.

I had bought "Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia" before this CD, but it was buying this CD that convinced me that the Dandy Warhols were one of the few bands in the music business whose name meant quality with no questions asked; after listening to this album once I knew that anything with the Dandy Warhols name on it was worth buying sight unseen (or sound unheard, as it were); they are just that good, and this CD represents them at their best. If you're at all curious about what this band is about, start with this CD...you'll be a most willing convert afterward, I promise.

The Dandy Warhols are a band that don`t take themselves too seriously and always know how to make a swell and intricate record. "Come Down", their second effort, is not their best but still has some qualities and a couple of interesting ideas. Here, they throw in references to the Velvet Underground, the Doors, add a bit of brit pop, folk, lo-fi and psychedelic elements. The singles "Boys Better", "Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth" and "Every Day Should Be An Holiday" are the most recognizable and acessible songs, though there are other good tracks to find. The mellow moments of "Good Morning", "Whipping Tree" or "Green" create emotional, ethereal songs, showing the band`s softer side. Their slacker, cooler-than-ever, laid-back attitude is present throughout the album, turning it into an addictive listening experience. It`s a pity that some tedious songs ("Pete International Airport", "The Creep Out") make the record a bit flawed and not as good as its follow-up "Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia", but for the most part it still is a fun ride. Enjoy.