Customer Reviews

Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia

5 star:		(73)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The Dandy Warhols are one cheeky band. Amidst today's one-hit-wonder pop music scene, where buzzbin bands go from being the second coming to yesterday's news practically overnight (a fate that The Dandy Warhols narrowly escaped with their 1997 hit 'Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth'), the band decided to make "one last classic album" in the tradition of the great albums of the late sixties and early seventies, where the entire recording is remembered more than the one or two hit singles it may spawn. That's an audacious thing to do (after all, the music biz is all about pushing singles), but for real music fans, it's a godsend, and the resulting product, Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia, is one of the most enjoyable albums of the year, and definitely the most fun.

Guitarist/vocalist/producer Courtney Taylor-Taylor and his crew plundered the classic rock vaults to create a wildly eclectic album. Notable styles that were 'lifted' are Burt Bacharach ('Godless'), The Beatles ('Mohammed'), Led Zeppelin III ('Country Leaver'), The Byrds ('Cool Scene'), Iggy Pop and The Velvet Underground ('Shakin''), Gram Parsons ('The Gospel') and Buffalo Springfield ('Big Indian'). Some people have also noted the sly irony in the song 'Godless', which borrows the intro to George Harrison's 'My Sweet Lord'. The classic album sound is also mimicked to perfection, with a warm, bass-heavy sound, luscious guitar overdubs, beautiful vocal harmonies, and as a final kicker, cross-fades between songs to give 13 Tales a continuous feel.

Taylor-Taylor's chameleonlike voice is the real star here. One minute he's delivering the vocals in a whisper-like tone, the next he's evoking Lou Reed while doing an eighties-style rap, then he's sounding like Iggy Pop, then he's harmonizing like the White Album-era Beatles, and as a final coup de grace, he sings the country-style album closer 'The Gospel' in a voice that sounds amazingly close to Thom Yorke of Radiohead.

Every song on the album is loads of fun, especially 'Country Leaver', 'Solid', 'Horse Pills', 'Cool Scene', and 'Shakin'', but the real great song (and ironically, potential huge single) is the sardonic 'Bohemian Like You'. Not since Jarvis Cocker's legendary class-war diatribes 'Common People' and 'Sorted For E's & Wizz' has anyone so hilariously lampooned wannabe hipsters. Over a guitar riff blatantly stolen from The Rolling Stones' 'Brown Sugar', Taylor-Taylor sings, "so what do you do?/oh yeah I wait tables too/no I haven't heard your band/cause you guys are pretty new" before launching into a (yet again) Stones-like "woo-hoo!" chorus. Irresistable!

People will probably overemphasize Taylor-Taylor's social commentary, but that's just prevalent in one song. As for the rest of the songs on 13 Tales, there's a reason the lyrics weren't included with the cd; as Taylor-Taylor sings in 'Cool Scene', "I really don't care what I sing/and I really doubt you know what I mean." Hey, forget about finding witty bon mots in the songs, sit back, and have a blast listening to this fabulous album.

I don't believe I will ever forget the first time I ever heard Godless, standing in the shaft of sunlight at the listening station of the Virgin record store. I was already a huge fan of the Dandy Warhols, so I knew what I was getting into: I was almost giddy with anticipation. And the first few chords washed over me and I knew it would be great and it almost sounds silly, but I felt like . . . joy. It was a memorable moment.

But as time has passed and I've listened to this album over and over and over again, I find that it isn't wearing as well as their earlier effort, Come Down. It is very difficult to explain why.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Dandies, I will tell you that they are a rock band. As in the style of the great ones, their songs are founded on acoustic rhythm guitar, on top of which are layered electric guitars, various unusual sounding keyboards, occasional horns, and an excellent pounding rhythm section. From their name you would guess (as I did) that there is some Velvet Underground influence here, and you would be right, but the Dandies have frankly moved way beyond that. It's more instructive, I think, to define them by a movement rather than a particular band, and I would associate them with the time when hard rock went psychedelic, circa 1966, when Bob Dylan went electric, and even the gentle Donovan was doing Hurdy Gurdy Man.

And Thirteen Tales is a great album, no doubt about it, especially the first three songs, which listening to is like being transported. All are really original, big sounding, beautiful, bizarre, moving songs; the kind of thing we have come to expect from the Dandies. But beyond that . . . well, there are still a bunch of great songs. Bohemian, Cool Scene, Solid, and Shakin' are are all meaty, beaty rock songs. But, do they really compare with Boys Better, Minnesoter or Last Junkie? Sleep is a slower, more beautiful song, but it is about the only one, and is still not nearly as dreamy and shimmering as Orange, Whipping Tree, or Green.

In the final analysis, Thirteen Tales, while technically superb, seems to lack the heart of Come Down. I think I remember reading somewhere that the Dandies, with this album, decided to create what they perceived to be a classic rock album, with one great song after the other, like the great rock legends. And they did. In the process though, and without perhaps even realizing it themselves, they put together what they thought OTHER people wanted, and compromised--maybe only slightly--their own unique vision. Great as this album is, it doesn't quite reach their potential. Of course, this is saying quite a bit.

After waiting three years, the day has finally arrived. A new album by the Dandy Warhols, and quite possibly their best yet. Although it doesn't have some of the slow heavy psychadelic tracks from Dandys Rule OK and ...the Dandy Warhols Come Down, every song has unique qualities that make each one worthwhile. Basically, it comes down to one simple fact: this record rocks. The first track is "Godless" which is also the first US single, and it sets the pace for the album, always staying at this zenith of quality. Some of my favorites are "Country Leaver", "Horse Pills", "Get Off", and "Bohemian Like You", another of the album's singles. Even if you haven't heard either of the band's first two albums, you should buy this as soon as you can. The vocal harmonies are as tight and layered as ever, and the band seems to have gone deeper into arrangements, including horns and strings on some of the tracks and layering guitar, bass, and organ sounds more than on the other albums. The first few thousand albums pressed also contain a bonus disc, which includes "White Gold", "Phone Call", and live versions of the band's hit single "Not if You Were the Last Junkie on Earth" and "I Love You".

I don't have a mind-blowing number of CDs, about 180. Like everyone, I've borrowned plenty more from friends. But never, on any of them, can I remember a 3 song introduction that just floors you like the Dandys do on "Bohemia." With no time for so much as a breath, the back-to-back-to-back combo of "Godless," "Mohammed" and"Nietzsche" is jaw-dropping. There are not many lyrics on the first three, primarily incredible grooves with layers and layers of music. A trumpet in the first song, Middle-Eastern feel in the second, and a "When the Levee Breaks" caliber drum sound in the third. It's the kind of music that is really done justice on a big system. Alone. In the dark. Lying down. In an altered state of mind.

And that's just the beginning.

For the rest of the album, the Dandys change styles frequently. "Country Leaver" is a brand new sound from them, with a country-hillbilly feel, complete with slide guitar and banjos. Courtney Taylor really sounds like Lou Reed in several other songs. "Horse Pills" has some entertaining lyrics. "Bohemian Like You" and "Shakin'" are great groove songs, with some record scratching in the latter. And "Sleep" and "Gospel" provide the drifting-into-space type, beautiful ballads.

For the new listener wondering who they sound like, it's tough to describe. I get images of Jesus and Mary Chain, Spiritualized, the Cure, the Velvet Underground, any great DJ, any great rock band, and any 70s band. Sometimes all in one song. Without sounding cliche, the Dandys really just sound like themselves.

For the listener familiar with them, this is their best album. "Dandys Rule OK" has more of a pop, hook-laden feel. "Dandy Warhols Come Down" has a darker, beat-driven groove to it. "Bohemia" seems to tie the two together, combining the great riffs and melodies of the first album with the chest-thumping, head-nodding feel of the second.

Music still is alive and well in America.

The Dandy Warhols have proved themselves as pop's most coolest and most creative band out there today! They've evolved like ape into man on target. There's not a missing body part on them to say otherwise. 13 Tales of Urban Bohemia aren't just songs that play one after another, they unfold beautifully into a rich and complex, multi-layered album that has something for everyone.

1. GODLESS (7/10)- A wonderful opening with angelic trumpets accompanied by Taylor-Taylor's lyrics whistfully stating that someone's a "souless friend".

2. MOHAMMED (5/10)- My least favorite song on the album but it's still intersting and compelling enough to hold your attention while. . .

3. NIETZSCHE (6/10)- Haunting and brooding while Taylor-Taylor repeatedly moans "I want a God who stays dead, not plays dead. I, even I, can play dead." It's long but like Mohammed, it keeps you interested.

4. COUNTRY LEAVER (7/10)- Now comes the pop as The Warhols go country! It reminds me of Beck a little bit but the song is catchy with its hand claps.

5. SOLID (7/10)- The song is cool and "poppy". I can just picture Taylor-Taylor lounging on a Lazy Boy recliner smoking a cig and all these great lyrics just coming out of his mouth.

6. SOLID (8/10)- Hard and tough with a Taylor-Taylor talk rap and lyrics like ". . .butts getting bigger do ya think he'll notice maybe/that's alright, don't worry 'bout it baby. . ." and ". . .in your itsy bitsy teeny weenie riding up the butt bikini. . ." This where you know that these guys are cool as hell.

7. GET OFF (7/10)- A song about a universal subject with good stumming from guitars and a great string piece because "All I wanna do is get off"

8. SLEEP (6/10)- The song is good but it should have been the last song because it really puts you to sleep not because it's boring but because it so damn peaceful and heavenly. It's really a brisk of fresh air, a really long brisk.

9. COOL SCENE (10/10)- EXCELLENT! My favorite song of the 13 and hey, the trumpet is back! Very cool.

10. BOHEMIAN LIKE YOU (10/10)- If nothing on this album makes you happy this song will sure to put a grin on your face. The lyrics are witty and the song is catchy!

11. SHAKIN' (10/10)- Another flawless gem from the Warhols. It reminds me of Rocky Horror. It's a great feeling good use of guitars.

12. BIG INDIAN (9/10)- 13 remains enjoyable. This is a great mellow song to nod your head to.

13. THE GOSPEL (9/10)- The tales come to an end with The Gospel. It's one of those good old fashioned songs that prolongs in your ear.

The Dandy Warhols bring something new and special to the table. For me, The Warhols bring short films, little mysterious gems that play in my mind over and over but no matter what I do, I can't push stop or even eject. I am constantly pushing play and so should you. The Dandy Warhols Rule, OK!

It's the 3rd in a trilogy of awesome and underrated, unheard of Dandy Warhols albums. This one ranks as the best rock and roll release of 2000. Just so people know, there's nothing to "get" about this record, it's a first time grabber both sonically and lyrically, and refreshingly, nothing is depressed or too deep to ponder. If anything, the lyrics are easy-going and borderline cocky in spots, but I guess that would sum up Courtney Taylor and the Dandy Warhols.

It starts off with "Godless," one of the more interesting Warhol tunes ever written, complete with a prominent trumpet, which uniquely pops up in various songs throughout the entire album. A great musical segway occurs inbetween "Godless" and the awesome "Mohammed," perhaps the best tune of the album, though that's quite debatable. There's a kind of Egyptian vibe between the two songs that starts eerily and creeps in slowly, when suddenly a high-pitched guitar lick sneaks in and truly starts the song. Courtney Taylor's far-ranging vocals have never sounded better than on "Mohammed," as he performs the high notes exceptionally, almost to the tune of 70's Bee Gees. Like past Warhol songs, "Mohammed" has an atmospheric sound and an easy vibe to it that is irresistable.

Song for song, this may be the best this band has delivered yet, and that says a lot. They haven't varied their sound TOO much, yet their style has become poppier and more precise, less dragged out, drugged out and fuzzy. In the meantime, Taylor continues to maintain his sense of fun with lyrics that really don't matter. There's definitely a bounciness, even clownish sense of excitement on some of the songs, an eager-to-please and happy to be alive aura. On "Country Saver," Taylor does his best low-voiced country impersonation over a wonderful slide guitar that sparkles, played by outsider Troy Stewart. Then, we're treated to the 1-2-3 power pop punch of "Solid," "Horse Pills," and "Get Off," which simply seems unheard of today, 3-minute songs too good for radio music in the year 2000. "Sleep" slows things down and has a definite Smashing Pumpkins lullaby-like vibe to it, pleasant but a little lazy and long, too dreamy and polished for its own good.

Amazingly, the best moments on "13 Tales" come on the last five songs. "Cool Scene" is one of the snappiest on the record, as is the fantastic released song, "Bohemian Like You." "Shakin" has a fitting name, and Courtney Taylor sounds half Elvis, half Count Dracula. It's practically a rhythmic dance song. "Big Indian" is another hopelessly tuneful and pretty song, a little more serious than the rest; it would make a great single. "The Gospel" winds things down on a very slow and famous hymnal note, perhaps fitting for such an unabashedly pop record.

The Dandy Warhols don't dwell on overbearing electric guitars or loud excruciating, non-melodic noises. Instead, the band often relies on a close acoustic guitar, lulling voices, and a jumping drum kick that lends much stamina to their songs. If you've never discovered these guys (plus one girl), this is the album to do it. Help make these guys superstars and an addition to good rock and roll played on the radio.

The might of this album begins with the very fact that I am bothering to write a review that might never be looked at, but my desire to promote and spread knowledge to as many people as I can about this group is that powerful.

"Thirteen Tales" continues in the same direction as "Come Down"- the trademark fade-in intro that builds up into a head- nodding anthem ("Godless") and melds seamlessly with the rest of the album, particularly "Mohammed" and "Nietzche". In a style that is a reminder of Spiritualized and Kruder and Dorfmeister, every song litertally flows into the next, and in doing so creates an album, not a CD, so you can never, ever put this on shuffle. It must be listened to the whole way through.

What is encouraging about this new album is that they have learned from the weaknessess of their past efforts. "...Rule OK?" was a great pop album; hook-laden and catchy, but with a real lack of cohesion and consistently quality songs. Their production quality grew on "Come Down", but they continued their habit of throwing in weak efforts that made the disc choppy and skippable.

This time, there is not a weak link in the Dandies' chain. "Country Leaver" is a hilarious foot-stomping neo-country tune- like Wilco on a chemical bender. The transition into "Solid" puts your heart into your ears and you can't help but smile at the sky. Others like "Get Off", the trance-inducing "Sleep" and the Kinks-like "Big Indian" are other examples of consistency that only make you wonder what more they can offer.

To be honest, I couldn't name the influences in every song- I never was a big Velvet fan, and I think comparisons to Spiritualized outside of their production sound are pretty weak in regards to their style, but ever since "TV Theme Song" (Rule OK) and "Be-In" (Come Down), I believe the Dandies are the most genuinely energetic, rocking, sincere, sef-centered, and ambitious rock band on the scene, and they sound as if they want anyone who wants to listen to come along for the ride.

"Well, I got a beautiful new Asian girlfriend/ Yeah, she comes over and sleeps for days in my bed"

Kids...the Dandy Warhols are probably the most eclectic band playing today. In an American scene with either hip-hop, bubblegum teen pop, or rap-metal dominating, the Dandy Warhols are a breath of fresh air for those Americans who like British music more, anyways. ;-) But, the task at hand..."13 Tales from Urban Bohemia" is truly a classic rock album. It opens with one of the best songs ever written, "Godless", featuring a trumpet hook with solid acoustic riffs. Next, the Dandys take you on an 11-minute melodic, pulsating trip, with the tracks "Mohammed" and "Nietzsche". After a few solid but unremarkable tracks, they get going again with "Get Off", "Sleep", "Cool Scene", Bohemian Like You", "Shakin'", "Big Indian", and finally, "The Gospel". Really...those songs are worth mentioning because they are that good. The way the Dandys manipulate style, elegance and rock & roll into a cool, dirty, amazing record truly is art in its hippest form. "Get Off" is an acoustic rocker, followed by "Sleep", a dreamy, gentle number with harmonies galore. "Cool Scene", "Bohemian Like You" and "Shakin'" are basic pop tracks...although each is unique in its aggressiveness and lyricism. "Big Indian" is another catchy indiepop track, and "The Gospel" comes for to carry us home. A fitting ending to a great record. All in all, "13 Tales..." has its downsides, where songs might be a bit too long, but, it's better than everything else out there. If anything, buy it for "Godless", which has melodies so sharp it'll make you cry. I swear.

I think this is the best Dandy Warhols album so far, and I like the band a lot. "13 Tales" is much more solid than the previous "Come Down" and consistently better songwriting. If you don't know their music, this album is a tasty starting point.

It is a rockin' album, but it is very dynamic - from quieter and melodic tunes to 'balls to the wall' blasts of fuzz and distortion intended to annoy neighbors. Song-writing varies from fairly simple and repetitive (Nietzche) to clever songs with hooks, complex chord structure, and intricate harmonies. At times dissonant, at others sweetly harmonious, and sometimes a bit of both. Harsh fuzz guitar sounds are mixed with clear, ringing acoustic guitars.

The album's sound is basic alt-rock, but draws from a variety of classic bands (Stones, Iggy Pop, Velvet Underground and others). They add a unique sound, sensibility, and tongue-in-cheek attitude that makes it refreshingly their own. There even hip-hop beats on one track. Some tracks are deliberately dissonant, others with sweet harmonies. It is the musical variety here that makes this one fun to listen to from top to bottom, meriting many listens without getting old or sounding the same.

What makes this album great is the wide range of sounds and styles, and the fact that there's not a bad track on it. The songs are seg'ed together to give a nonstop music experience, great for listening to the whole album. The seg transitions make for disruptive transitions on mix tapes, unless you do some editing.. When you play the entire album on most mp3 or computer music players, there is a brief gap in the transition as the player switches from one to the next track, unless you have gapless playback capabilities (like foobar2000, or are playing directly from the CD). For that reason I ripped the mp3s both separately and altogether as one track.

Tracks:

The first three tracks ("Godless", "Mohammed, "Nietche") are a powerful opening, starting slow and gaining strengthy until finally bursting out all over with "Nietchzhe"... a splendid trio. "Country Traveller" comes next. It's a great country-ish song on its own, but in terms of the mood it's an about face from where they took us with the first three.

The most obvious pop singles are "Bohemian Like You" (which got some airplay) and "Get Off" (which I have not heard on the radio). "Solid" and "Horse Pills" are hilarious snarky tunes that would be more at home on college radio.

The closing track, "The Gospel", is my least favorite, because it is slow and somber, and because it marks the end of a great album. But overall, there isn't a bad track on the album, though of course some are stronger than others.

There are various CD singles you can get from Amazon delears featuring tracks from this album. The title cuts on the singles are identical to the album tracks, so it is the alternative versions that are the reason to buy them. "Godless (mix)," from the "Horse Pills" single, reworks the song considerably. I like the result a lot - not better than the original, but as much as I like the song it's fun to hear a reimagined version.

I would give the album 4 1/2 stars if it were available. I usually reserve 5 stars for one of the best albums of all time. Objectively, I don't think that it is, because the quality varies; subjectively, it is certainly one of my essential favorite albums.... so 5 stars here.

Before this album, the only music I listened too was metal, grunge, and the Cure. All the angry and sad "Why me?" stuff that every teenage outcast needs. But then I heard Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia. Actually I heard Godless, the first track and first single. It had a groove to it. It was a great pop tune with a drone and a feel of someone who gets the joke. I had previously heard Not if you were the Last Junkie, and had liked it, so I thought I would give this album a shot.
Amazing, every song is a masterpiece. The sound goes from drone, to pop, rock, and even country (sort of). Sounding like one of those classic 60's/70's rock bands that will always be listened to. (Think the Band's Last Waltz, or Lou Reed's Transformer) It gave me no surprise that I later saw magazines calling this one of the top albums of the year, though in my opinion it was the first great album of the new century. Even though I got a little tired of Bohemian Like You, I still (after 5 years) find this to be one of the great albums made in my lifetime, and certainly one of my favorites of all time.