The Dandy Warhols

Odditoreum, or the Warlords of Mars (Capitol/EMI)

Comments (0) By Jesse Hughey Thursday, Sep 15 2005

Odditoreum's introductory spoken-word track sets up the story that in some alternate universe, a postwar jug band named the Dandy Warhols invented rock 'n' roll. It sounds like an idea left over from some stupid inside joke, at once self-important and ironically self-deprecating. In other words, it epitomizes the album and perhaps even the band, who have abandoned the outright poppiness that built their pre-DIG! acclaim and turned into a more improvisational, experimental and self-obsessed version of their documentary costars Brian Jonestown Massacre. The failed skit is followed with a hodgepodge of long, droning psychedelic jams built around the simple riffs and witty pop nuggets for which the band was previously known. But these shining moments are few, as the Dandies indulge themselves with overlong songs, vocal effects and pleasant, pointless noodling melodies on guitars, synths and trumpets. Dandy fans will at least find a few tracks to embrace. "Smoke It," the first single from Odditoreum, is a catchy, fast-and-loose singalong, though not as slickly produced as previous singles. Singer Courtney Taylor-Taylor shouts reasons to "Smoke it just as long as you can smoke it," including "People got more baggage than JFK/And I'm talking about the airport." If you dig clever lines like that, go on, feel the Dandy Warhols. Otherwise, you'll find them as interesting as a can of Campbell's soup.