The Dandy Warhols: Odditorium Or Warlords Of Mars : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Sometimes, good bands release outstandingly bad records. As sloppy and low on hooks as their previous album was tight and tuneful, the Dandy Warhols' Odditorium reverts to the Velvet Underground drone of the Portland, Oregon, foursome's earliest records -- minus those discs' hazy joy. Four tracks wander beyond the seven-minute mark without much variation, and even the Stones-y single "Smoke It" loses momentum after two minutes. Frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor particularly lacks commitment: He mumbles or whispers or puts on a goofy voice during most tracks, and only the spiraling space rock of "Down Like Disco" flaunts a riff strong enough to withstand his destruction. Whether it's a fuck-you to fans who scoffed at 2003's synth-poppy Welcome to the Monkey House or a vindictive fulfillment of their contractual obligation to Capitol Records, this crap smells bad any way you sniff it.