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The subtle electronic treatments that appeared on 2000's NOT QUITE U.S. breakthrough CD "Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia" and the subsequent Dandy Warhols remixes that have sprung up since then seem to have hinted that the band was moving from a traditional Brit-pop based guitar sound to one where keyboards and other gadgetry would be a bit more prominent. When the word hit that Duran Duran synth stylist Nick Rhodes was assisting with the production with the (VERY long-awaited) follow-up to "Thirteen Tales", the cat was out of the proverbial bag.
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The result is an album that doesn't sound like any they've released before, yet still retains the inherent characteristic that makes the previous records sound so good (and is missing from so many other acts in the music business today): Quality songwriting and Courtney Taylor-Taylor's unabashed willingness to pay homage to (or completely rip off, depending on your point of view) the bands and artists he most admires.
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The increased electronics add additional flavoring to the CD, but in some cases the end-result is that the songs sound like premixed remixes of Dandy Warhols songs (particularly the case with "I Am A Scientist")...and Dandy Warhols fans who are also Duran Duran fans (like me) will realize that the sound is more influenced by "Medazzaland" era Duran rather than the classic "Rio" sound. With this comes an undeniable funkiness previously lacking on Dandy Warhols CD's, especially in "The Dope" and "I Am Over It"...these songs wouldn't sound of place on one of Prince's better albums, actually.
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The best song on the album is undeniably the Bowie-flavored (musically, anyway) "You Were The Last High", scheduled for release as the next single following the uber-pop electro-bublegum "We Used To Be Friends". It probably won't (and shouldn't) be remembered as the "Bohemian Like You" of 2003, but it is undeniably catchy and a joy to listen to, a ready-made classic.

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"Welcome To The Monkey House" is neither better nor worse than its predecessors (personal preference will dictate how well it's received by fans already familiar with the Dandy Warhols); I wouldn't recommend it as being indicative of what the band's sound actually is (the ambient drone of "Insincere Because I" represents a style of song that has been repeated on nearly every album, but even that one track does not sum up the band's musical philosophy as recorded in studio). It's an interesting album, well-written and recorded; certainly worth your time and purchase. Do NOT expect to hear 13 more "Bohemian Like You" clone tracks, though.
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The DVD included with this version is a nice touch (also somewhat surprising that this Australian import is less expensive than the European version WITHOUT the DVD also offered by Amazon); it will play on your home PC (with a resolution that will make cubists weep with joy), but an all-region DVD player is a must if you wish to watch the videos on your TV set in North American or Europe.

People should know that the DVD that comes with this package is not playable on the normal American NTSC system. It is designed for play on the PAL system.

This album is made even cooler by the fact that I have been enjoying it all summer, while those who choose to wait for a stateside release ... have to wait until the end of August. HA!

That said, the standout tracks are the first single, "We Used To Be Friends" (you can't help but sing along), "Plan A" (Simon LeBon's backing vocal is cool), "The Dope" (funky-funky-FUNKAY beat), and "Heavenly" (summer's unknown classic).

This particular version is all the better by the included 4-video DVD. The unsettling thing, though, is that (to me, at least) Taylor and company manage to look a little unwashed and unwholesome throughout. I know, it's a stupid thing to go on point and say, but I'd almost rather NOT see them perform. I was all psyched to check out the vids (I've never previously seen ANY of them) and then reality set in. Don't play this one around the toddlers ... the nudity can get a bit racy. It was interesting, however, to see Taylor sporting a mohawk in the new "WUTBF" video.

P.S. When the guy above me says that you cannot play this DVD in an American DVD player, DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE! I don't have any PAL equipment or anything, and my Bose 3-2-1 system rocked that DVD like there was no tomorrow, so ...