SMITH WESTERNS

Dye It Blonde

2011-03-14

Smith Westerns made their first album on the computer at home, in Chicago. By all accounts, the result was decidedly garage-y. For Smith Westerns’ second album, “Dye It Blonde”, they were backed by Fat Possum Records, they used a professional studio, and they had a professional producer in Chris Coady (Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs and TV on the Radio). All this boils down to a more slickly layered production. The thing I saw repeated over and over in my research on this band was a comparison to TRex. I don’t see it. What I hear on this Chicago band’s release is a 60’s influence with maybe a teensy bit of 70’s ELO thrown in (especially on "Imagine Pt. 3”). “Dye It Blonde” got kind of mundane about half-way through, but it’s good for a song or two with its radio-friendly melodies. Rebecca Ruth

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Rock

  • reviewed 02/2012

    THE NIKHIL KORULA BAND
    Music of the New Day

  • reviewed 03/2014

    ANNA ROSE
    Behold A Pale Horse

  • reviewed 01/2005

    The Dears
    No Cites Left

  • reviewed 07/2007

    REBEKAH RHYS
    Wanderer

  • reviewed 08/2007

    SETH BERNARD AND FRIENDS
    Airborne or Aquatic?

  • reviewed 03/2008

    The Flowbs
    Grazing Like The Elephants

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.