BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
Every few weeks I’ll do one of these “First Impression of” columns. The general idea is that I listen to a band I’ve never listened to’s entire studio discography. Sometimes it’s a new band that people hype a lot or it’s an iconic band that I just never crossed paths with. The goal is be open minded and give an honest first impression of a band in almost a real-time unabridged train of thought just being spewed out and shared. Sometimes I fall in love with a new band (new to me, dammit!) or it’s painful for the duration. Regardless, I listen and form my own opinion.
Why Smith Westerns?
Why not Smith Westerns? I seriously don’t know much about them. I’ve seen their name pop up on festival lists and things like that. Judging a book by it’s association, I’m going to blindly assume they might be a quasy-hipster-indie type of band. Who knows? This could be fun. I’m genuinely hoping I enjoy this band and have new music to add to my musical lexicon. I’m optimistic, but three albums can be a long time if things get rough. Don’t lemme down, Chicago…
The Smith Westerns
(2009 – 29 minutes) - The album kicks off with "Dreams". It’s a muddy, noise rock with lots going on in the distance and through the grizzle. It’s catchy, almost surf-punkish, but still poppy. It’s hard to really put a finger on. It’s like lo-fi Cheap Trick. I found myself literally snapping my fingers along to the song. The opening melody of "Boys are Fine" feels familiar, but the almost undistinguishable first impression of the vocals are something that would have stood out to me. The melody is sweet though. It’s something that feels perfect for a Wes Anderson movie or a movie of equal artistic precision. Really cool song, the break down is on an Arcade Fire-level of big, which is of course a good thing. The more up tempo poppy-surf-punk comes back with "Gimme Some Time". I get a Stokes vibe from this one, but it’s totally its own thing. It’s catchy and makes you tap along with it. The guitar breakdown and base build up around a minute in is swell too. Dominating drums build up on "Girl in Love" as teases of guitar sprinkle in before getting into a pretty grooved out base-line. The strut of this song is rockstastic.
"We Stay Out" feels like it’s a song being held under water. The vocals are gargled and there is a slight warp to everything. It has a pleasant melody, but it’s not gripping enough compared to what I’ve gotten to hear so far. "Tonight" is muddy, it has a nice sloppy and catchy melody but its delivery almost feels like it’s coming from a party full of drunken people turning their already-blown speakers up louder than they should. Don’t think that was a complaint. "Be My Girl" is a great song. The melody sways you through something that feels like it’s pulled from the history books of rock. The break down is great, but the song just takes you right through three very good minutes of appetizing audio. It’s hard not to tap your foot along with "The Glam Goddess". It’s barely two and half minutes, but it’s a sweet and uplifting little piece of song. It has a familiarity in its bounce that makes it feel like a song you’ve heard your whole life, and have enjoyed. That kind of comfortability is hard to place, but they do it well.
The electric sass of "Diamond Boys" is almost intimidating, but it’s still an inviting song. You can’t help but nod your head along to it. The debut album wraps up with "My Heart". The song builds up with vigor and bounces right into a kick ass melody. The vocals come statically at us but the grizzled words add a great layer to a wonderful tune. I’m really impressed with this first album. I’d like to hear slightly cleaner vocals going forward, but I really like the song of what I’m hearing. There are song really good songs on here. Let’s see how the sophomore album goes…
Dye It Blonde
(2011 – 36 minutes) - The band’s second album kicks off with "Weekend". There is a swanky melody that builds up. I automatically notice it sounds MUCH cleaner. The vocals are cleaner here than any track of the debut. I like it. The voice is very soothing. This song is pretty killer. It breaks into a great wall of sound and there are horns in there somewhere! There is a subdued drift to "Still New". It almost feels like a lullaby. I get a Pixies vibe from them on this track, but with an early 00’s indie band twist. The music is outstanding. I didn’t get a chance to hear the first two parts, but up next is "Imagine Pt. 3". This song makes me want to go outside and dance by the nearest colorful item of nature. It has a Beatles feel to it. The break down is almost trippy, but fully awesome. It’s hard to not want to dance along to this music. At this point, I’m really into what’s going into my ears. "All Die Young" starts off with church organs and slowly strums into an epic tip-toer of a track. By the end of the song you’re singing along with the chorus. "Fallen in Love" is cool too. There is a grizzled aspect to the vocals here, but it’s still clean and crisp somehow. The melody has a surf-drunk playfulness to it carried by a dominating base-line. The end has a crazy casio fade out. "End of the Night" doesn’t mess around. It jumps right into it. The song has a great tempo, but the piano and vocal breakdown is potentially the coolest thing I’ve heard all day. That says a lot. This song really comes together. The best track on this album so far is hands down "Only One", it’s all the retro-rock fun you’d want in a song and more. It feels so natural that it feels like they’re covering someone. It’s a full sound of wonderfully orchestrated music.
"Smile" is a great song too. It sounds so beautiful and sweet, but the vocals are pretty dark and a bit tongue-in-cheek. The guitar stomps you through this soulful skip down through the layers of fragile feeling music. It’s almost religious. The spree of good tuneage goes on with "Dance Away". It’s a more danceable and up tempo song. It still has that 1960’s trippy-hippy surf-pop-rock thing going on. The album closes out with "Dye the World". Instantly I feel like I’ve heard the melody. It sounds like another track they have, but I dunno which one for sure. It’s got a Beatle’s-like drift to it, but the break of the verses is a more modern approach. Very nice wrap up. I’m not going to forget about this album anytime soon.
Soft Will
(2013 – 40 minutes) - The bands most recent release slowly opens with "3 A.M. Spiritual". The vocals remind me a lot of the more harmonious vocals from “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”. That’s comparison this listener holds in highest regards. The song slowly builds up as the vocals delicately yank us where it wants us to go. I found myself spacing out during "Idol". It’s got such an engaging melody that I feel like my headphones swallowed my head. It’s nothing too amazing, but it’s just really easy to get lost in. The same can be said for "Glossed", but it’s a bit more captivating. There is more of a rollercoaster ride in this one. "XXIII" starts off and you almost feel like it’s an interlude, but the rest of the music hits in and you realize this album sounds and feels a lot like a Pink Floyd album. The music comes together very nicely and it’s a beautiful piece of music. Songs don’t need to be anything more than that. If you listen with inviting ears you will be taken elsewhere. Vocals return in "Fool Proof", a danceable song that brings the tempo up to a higher level without harshing the mellow already established. Things slow down to the electrified echoes of crooning vocals with an acoustic guitar. The rest of the music joins in and the tempo just takes you on a floating smile ride. "White Oath" came and went without me really thinking too much about it. I just absorbed it and let it go in one ear and out the other. I know I liked it and appreciated it, but it wasn’t enough to really grab my soul and shake it for attention. "Only Natural" pulls my attention back to life. The guitar work on it stands out and kind of rocks. The song "Best Friend" works on many levels. By the time you’re half way in, you’re thinking “this is great” and then a great guitar solo kicks in and cements all the positive you’re feeling. "Cheer Up" is an uplifting song that almost drifts into a country area of melody. It just feels like something you’d hear being strummed while on a makeshift raft floating adrift through a sea of sleep. The band’s third and most recent album closes out with "Varsity". It sounds a lot like the other songs on this album. This album had a few songs that sounded a little too similar, but it was still a really good album. I’m really interested in hearing how they progress moving forward.
THE VERDICT
(2009 – ) - This was one of the most enjoyable new music experienced I’ve had in a while. My mind is blown. It’s hard to really describe this band. I’ve used a lot of adjectives and made a lot of comparisons for this band. I guess it’s easy to just say they’re rock and roll, but everyone needs a subgenre right?! I’m going with “grin rock” because that’s what it makes me do. This is stuff that’s right up my alley in terms of taste and potential. I’m thrilled to have this new music to listen to over and over again to take in, but I’m still a bit bummed it took so long. These dudes are from Chicago. I’m like 40 minutes from their home base and I’m JUST now getting exposed? This is a band I should have not only known about for years, not only enjoyed for years, but should have had at least one or two drinking occasions in their presence. I can’t recommend these guys enough. You’ll thank me that you at least got on board when you did.
What is YOUR favorite Smith Western album?
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