Customer Reviews

The Capitol Years 1995-2007

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An excellent compilation from one of the better indie rock bands out there (now touring by the way.)

I read L. King's review and have to disagree. With maybe one or two exceptions (yes, Minnesoter probably should have made it), this is exactly what a "greatest hits" CD should be.

Die-hard fans of ANY band are going to have favorites that don't make it on the greatest hits CD, but that's not the point. Die-hard fans probably own every CD already.

This CD is for someone who likes the Dandy Warhols but maybe has only heard a few songs here or there and wants to listen to more. Or someone who doesn't already own every one of their CDs.

I got this CD for a couple friends of mine who listened to "Bohemian Like You" and both really liked it and wanted to hear more. They love it.

So don't lose sight of what this is - a greatest hits CD. And it's a darn good one!

(as of my posting the price is $7.49 which is fantastic too!)

Revised for Ease of Understanding

Here's the thing about the Dandy Warhols: they have two very different sides. One is lyrically clever and madly in love with pop music. The other is noisy, dark, and bass-heavy, with elements of grunge and (sometimes) elements of prog rock. Though occasional songs bring these sides together, Pixies-style, usually they are quite separate. The Dandies have not had many hits, especially in the US, where their only single to chart ("Bohemian Like You") didn't even crack the top 100. They've done better with TV and film, supplying the "Veronica Mars" theme song, for example, but the big-time success they deserve has eluded them. And in recent years, even Europe has gone off them. So the idea that this album is a collection of "greatest hits" is ludicrous. It's a collection of songs, a career retrospective, and a reviewer who knows the band well has a right to assess it.

What I don't like is that the collection overemphasizes the pop side of the band. It's not that I don't love that side; I do. But some of their best songs (the hard-rocking "Minnesoter," the majestic "Nietzsche," the powerful, grinding cover of Neil Young's "Ohio," to cite just three) are miles from pop. Moreover--and now we're reaching my point--in marketing the band, the clever, pop side has always been emphasized, starting with the band's too-droll-by-half name, which I think a major miscalculation. I can't count the number of people I've turned on to the Dandies who said to me, "Yeah, I've heard of 'em, but I always assumed they were a bunch of art-school pussies." (Note to art students: I'm quoting.) It's the pop tunes that are in the media, and, presumably, they have drawn the audience they're going to draw. The great untapped market for this band is rock fans, and, for some reason, nobody at Capitol ever worked that out. As this album proves. For me, that diminishes it.

If any rock fans have read this far, try the albums "Come Down" and "Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia" instead of buying this collection. I'm also a big fan of the SECOND volume of "Tales from Slabtown," an EP that is a little hard to find but well worth the effort (though not the $98 and up that used dealers are charging; look online).

If you are looking for good 90's fare- this is it. Contains all the tracks you would hope it does.

The Dandy Warhols are a band that gives you so many different sounds. They are a fun band with real musical talent.

These are all great songs. The Dandys have bunches more besides. Some are cool pop songs, some are epic, droney rock songs, others are just plain weird. But what I don't understand is why anyone would buy a greatest hits album in 2011. Do you not own a computer? I can't imagine anyone being a Dandys fan and not being savvy enough to download the songs you want, or burn your Dandys CDs to make the greatest hits collection you want, not the one the record label wanted. It's baffling. This is the era where you don't have to buy someone else's idea of an album. And it's a good thing, too.

But yeah, these are great songs. And the Dandys are great live. For Halloween once they all wore Wizard of Oz costumes at a gig. Awesome.