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 06/2005

    Aimee Mann
    The Forgotten Arm

  • reviewed 11/2013

    THE GORIES
    The Shaw Tapes: Live in Detroit 5/27/88

  • reviewed 02/2007

    Various Artists
    Catch and Release (Soundtrack)

  • reviewed 03/2010

    BEN HARPER AND THE RELENTLESS SEVEN
    Live From the Montreal International Jazz Festival

  • reviewed 10/2008

    Nikka Costa
    - Pebble To A Pearl

  • reviewed 02/2004

    Grant-Lee Phillips
    Virginia Creeper

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.