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Dandy Warhols
Despite their ragged exterior, these Portland poppers are always given positive marks for their keen verses and energetic performance. However, it seems their blend of Brit freakbeat, Northwestern garage and streetsmart raunch may be just too abrasive for many pop-o-philes. Time then to light a few candles, ease down the amperage and cozy up with the Velvets' third album, for the Warhols turn a little darker for their latest effort. Leaving the slow drones and shimmering chords to the low-profile electrics, the haphazardly strummed acoustic guitars reflect a more compassioned quotient, as the minor-keyed melodies merge from one track to the next. And while frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor still insists on singing as if a peach was lodged in his throat (ala Billy Corgan), the mystical flow of the music and its historical/philosophical references ("Mohammed," “Nietzsche,” etc.) have more ties to Opal, Galaxie 500 or Mazzy Star than any Pumpkins' releases. Excellent exercise for that middle eye. –gloria collins (Capitol)
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