I have only two Dandy Warhol albums – Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia and Welcome to the Monkey House. To be honest, I can listen to these albums all day. I never get bored listening to them.
So when I had the opportunity to review the album, The Best of the Capitol Years – 1995 – 2007, I jumped at it! Most of the songs on this album were originally on one of the two albums I already had, but that was okay because it put them in a different context along with songs that I didn’t know.
The Dandy Warhols use a lot of repetitive instrumentals which put me in an upbeat mood. Because of the repetitiveness, the music can easily put you in a meditative state.
The first song, “Boys Better,” starts off fast and vibrant and ends with a melodramatic tone. It certainly sets the stage for the rest of the album. This song and every song after, keeps you bopping your head. The harmonies on the second song, “Every Day Should Be a Holiday,” makes you want to smile, dance and twirl!
The band consists of Courtney Taylor who sings, plays guitar and sometimes keyboard and percussion; Peter Holmstrom who plays guitar and sometimes keyboard and bass; Zia McCabe who plays keyboard, key bass, percussion and sometimes sings; and Brent DeBoer who plays drums and sings. He also sometimes plays bass and guitar.
My favorite songs on the album are “Godless”, “The Last High” and “Plan A”. The instrumentals are real tight with the steady stream of guitar, bass and percussion injected with amazing moments of keyboard and synthesis.
When you listen to the words throughout the album, they are sad. It’s like an oxymoron – the words are sad and yet, the music makes you happy. For example, in the song, “ The Last High”, the words are:
I am alone but adored
By a hundred thousand more
Than I said when you were the last (high)
And I have known love
Like a whore
From at least ten thousand more
Than I swore when you were the last
Think about it for a moment, don’t you sometimes feel this way? I do. Owning a business a lot of people love and hate you, but when you find that someone special you need to stick with him/her.
Or in “Plan A”, the words are:
Must be some kind of planet
For all the people who can manage.
All of us who can handle it,
With all of this damage.
Think about our planet and how we as a society have damaged it. The repetitiveness of “Plan A” makes it special. When the band starts to sing “All of us, all of us sing about it” even if you don’t know the song, after hearing it you will be singing along!
Both these songs show how the Dandy Warhols put a twist on every song they perform. I loved this album. I feel like the Dandy Warhols music is timeless, fun and just makes me feel great. I would highly recommend buying it. I’m scheduled to see their show in Brooklyn in a few weeks and I just can’t wait!
Article first published as Music Review: The Dandy Warhols – The Best of the Capitol Years – 1995–2007 on Blogcritics.
Best band of the NW!