Smith Westerns from Chicago used to be called lo-fi and on their self titled 2009 debut album they fitted this tag perfectly, with its poorly produced blend of nothing special mixed with fuzz.
But following a move to the Fat Possum label and with producer Chris Coady, who has worked with TV on the Radio and the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, at the helm the band has been transformed.
The band’s love of British indie from the ’90s has been allowed to flourish under Coady and on this, their second album, they’ve been spruced up a treat.
There are elements of Suede, even Oasis in places, but the overall feel is as near as we’ve heard to Bandwagonesque era Teenage Fanclub and in turn the 1970s sounds of T Rex and Big Star that influenced it.
All guitar squeals and melody with clear crisp production. Sure we’ve heard it before with Teenage Fanclub, but this trio are here and now, have youth on their side and an energy that shines through.
Opener ‘Weekend’, the album’s first single is a great start. It’s harmless but with edge, hard yet sweet. Tough tricks are being pulled off on Dye It Blonde by Coady and this trio of skinny jean wearing, lanky indie-rockers.
Among other highlights are ‘All Die Young’, which starts with church organ before the sweeping, soaring 90s indie guitar kicks in. They love a good melody as well, such as on ‘Still New’.
If there is a criticism to be made its that lead singer Cullen Omori’s voice is not as strong or distinctive as the likes of Brett Anderson from Suede or even the late great Marc Bolan. But its the most minor of gripes. Omori and his band look the part and can expertly recreate the music that we love here at Neon Filler. That’ll do us quite nicely for now.
Dye It Blonde was released in the US in January. There’s been no UK release date set, but this album is fairly easy to pick up as an import via the likes of Amazon for around the £8 mark.
8/10
by Joe Lepper
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