Album Review: Smith Westerns-Dye It Blonde

Like so many bands of the current era, Chicago foursome Smith Westerns emerged from the smoky murk of their parent’s garage, releasing a sound that oozed with youthful arrogance and lofty dreams. Dynamic and rebellious, they delivered a noisy percussion driven self-titled debut that often sounded like Wavves-covering-Harlem with evident Beatles/Bowie influences.

Two years later and two years older, the boys have cleaned up their sound and maybe even grown up a bit. With their follow-up album Dye It Blonde, the band has been audibly refurbished, clearing up most of the dizzy scuzz of their debut meanwhile clinging onto the Brit-pop inspiration. Though it can be easy to compare it to Oasis circa Heathen Chemistry and T. Rex, Smith Westerns have certainly concocted something deliciously psychedelic of their own.

Their mastered synergy is evident from the get go with addictive and contagious pop jam “Weekend.” The lyricism is enough to make an angsty teenage girl blush with sweetly flirtatious lines such as “Weekends are never fun unless you’re around here too” (Weekend) and “All of my time should have been, in the end/ with you with you “ (Smile). Perhaps the cornerstone of the album, “All Die Young” is a tumbling tribute to John Lennon with muffled organs and “Something”-esque wails.

Overall, the album is a complete success. It’s got that timeless edge that suits nearly everyday with something to offer nearly every emotion. Even with a clearly established territory, Smith Westerns are eclectic and random enough to keep us wondering what’s next from them. I have nothing but optimism for their future.