The Breakdown
It’s been quite a while since Portland, Oregon psych maestros The Dandy Warhols released an album, and they have made up for lost time with their new release ‘Rockmaker’.
The album was heralded by three singles, ‘Danzig With Myself’, ‘ Summer of Hate’ and I’d Like To Help You With Your Problem’ which made one thing perfectly clear – these musical chameleons do not live in the past but constantly evolve and adapt. You can detect this sonic movement across their albums – from the psychedelic unfettered nature of ‘Dandy’s Rule OK’ their debut album, way back in 1995, to the Beach Boys dream pop shoegaze of ‘Come Down’ and ‘Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia’ and the electronic motorik beats of ‘Welcome To The MonkeyHouse and ‘Odditorium Or War Lords of Mars’.
Things have got darker since, and in my recent interview with Zia McCabe, she observed that ‘Rockmaker’, well, rocks:
I contributed very heavily in the percussion area, not as much bass as usual and very little synth because – well – hence the theme of the record. My impression of what these boys wanted was a rock record, really edgy, the hardest rock record we are probably ever going to make. But it does have the same sophistication. nuance, innovation and experimentation that we apply to our other more psychedelic albums over the years. I absolutely think that was accomplished.
Courtney Taylor-Taylor confirms this, saying:
Rockmaker is the manifestation of our desire to hear a record of heavy raw punk and metal guitar riffs handled in a way that we felt was cooler or sexier but has its own alley.
Indeed opening track, ‘Doomsday Bells’ hauls in like a fully laden semi-trailer with a fuzzy riff that thunders its way across the track, while there are psychedelic frills that drift in and out. The vocals are layered and distant and observant, louche and laden with attitude. It’s heavy metal psychedelic delivery that shakes the foundations and rattles the toes underpinned by a motorik beat that clears the brain of any cobwebs. It is not any easy track but one that grows on you.
The legendary Frank Black guests on ‘Danzig With Myself’ with a distinctive falsetto – a track which is another sonic cyclone – a rumbling half spoken voice simmers under the surface and a celestial chorus struggles its way out of the doom-laden thunder. Courtney Taylor-Taylor says of the track:
It started with a riff that either sounded like Misfits or Danzig and then got slowed down. Over time, it became the working title, and then we couldn’t change it. I mean, come on… ‘Danzig with Myself’?!
The death metals guitars have a familiar riff under the squall and a sardonic delivery that is ultimately haunting and atmospheric, even if the atmosphere is filled with dark clouds and rain.
‘Teutonic Wine’ dials back the thunder but there is still a lot of lightning – the trademark Dandys melodies are delivered with louche aplomb but the fuzz still crackles over the top. ‘The Summer of Hate’ high steps its way into the ears with a swagger and a roll, Taylor-Taylor doing his best Iggy Pop delivery with a thousand yard stare.
‘I’d Like To Help You With Your Problem’ is a wild and stormy blitzkrieg of a track that is delivers a heart stopping jolt with the addition of the legendary guitarist Slash adding a squall in the mix.
Courtney Taylor Taylor says of Slash’s signatory contribution:
The first time we heard it back in our studio we just stared at each other with our mouths open. What he played on the track is amazing. I’ve never heard him play quite like that, but what is so fascinating to me is that it is clearly him playing. As recognizable as a familiar human voice.
The track is itself a sonic defibrillator: a fuzzy, psychedelic turbine that blows your hair back. The delivery has all the hallmarks of the Dandies – louche and swaggering with a degree of insouciance, the lyrics casting a cynical glance at plastic corporate sycophancy and falsity:
We’d like to help you with your problem
All of our operators are currently assisting other callers
If this is an emergency, please hang up
Somebody will help you shortly
I’d like to help you with your problem
Yeah, I’d like to help you with your problem
I’d like to help you with your problem
Yeah, I’d like to help you with your problem
The accompanying video is a surreal and terrifying AI-enhanced production that is absolutely stunning:
‘The Cross’ and ‘Root of All Evil’ coasts on more fuzzy riffs that thunders between the ears, although the latter has horn stabs that add a frisson of bright light in the mix. ‘Alcohol and Cocainemarijuananicotine’ is, well, as th etitle suggests, a surreal paean to the contribution of certain substances over an insistent distant cowbell. It’s classic Dandys with its falsetto chorus and insouciance.
‘Love Thyself’ frees itself of the fuzz but rather is a cleaner bouncy pop track with drugged out exhausted deep vocals that are blasted out in a fugue. “Real people’ has the intensity of some Finnish Death Metal band with its slamming guitars. Thankfully we are spared growled singing – rather another half spoken diatribe is emitted with some melodious chorus.
The final track ‘I will Never Stop Loving You’ introduces another legend – Debbie Harry – and is a cinematic treat – something quite ethereal and grand, a majestic ending to the album. There is a Lynchian feel to the song – Taylor-Taylor half whispering in a demonic way his endless devotion, with Harry’s voice an ethereal ghostly lining with an operatic feel. It’s an ominous track: foreboding and bold, dramatic and shimmering in parts. It is without doubt a worthy addition to the Dandy’s large bag of classic songs.
The album eschews some of the patchouli-laced psychedelia of their previous material, has less of an accessible pop interface, but delivers rather a raw punk feel that is aggressive and dark. It is a fitting capture, perhaps of our times and yet deep inside its genes lie the Dandy’s inherent ear for melody and their incorrigible sense of style and humour.
‘Rockmaker is out now through Sunset Blvd. Records and available to stream and download here.
The Dandy’s are currently undertaking a massive world tour – you can catch their itinerary here and details for their Australian and New Zealand tour in April 2024 (tickets here) are below:
Mon, April 22: Powerstation, Auckland
Thurs, April 25: The Tivoli, Brisbane
Fri, April 26: The Gov, Adelaide SOLD OUT
Sun, April 28: Forum, Melbourne SOLD OUT
Mon, April 29: Astor Theatre, Perth LOW TIX
Wed, May 1: Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Thurs, May 2: The Gov, Adelaide LOW TIX
Fri, May 3: Northcote Theatre, Melbourne
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