The Dandy Warhols
Rockmaker (Sunset Blvd Records)
By Scott Deckman
I guess the question is why? Why does a band capable of “Bohemian Like You” or “Not if You Were the Last Junkie on Earth” put out records like Rockmaker? It seems that with Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia, the Dandys were serious about it being the last classic rock album, or at least their last classic rock album. Much of the Dandy Warhols’ output since then has been indebted to electronica weirdness rather than guitar rock. Speaking of guitar, none other than Mr. Slash himself guests on “I’d Like to Help You With Your Problem,” sounding a bit like semi-compatriot Dave Navarro circa 1990 (for completists, you can’t leave out the “Cherub Rock” lick in the beginning, either). The song is rocky and a little trippy, an album highlight.
This record reeks of trying too hard. Artists can do what they want, and should, I just wish the band would do more of what it’s actually good at: writing semi-psychedelic rock songs with hooks. Some of the group’s other experiments in the last couple of decades may’ve been better.
“The Cross” has a short, memorable line I can’t place (likely from a TV theme). “Love Thyself” is a return to rock, in an upfront, ’80s way, with a steady new wave riff. “Danzig With Myself” features Frank Black on guitar, and actually has a catchy high-pitched chorus to make up for the incessant electro crap noodling. “Real People” is martial music for the inchoate ’20s set, disjointed and chaotic. “Teutonic Wine” offers listen-to-it-a-few-times-and-get-it guitar, again with a memorable chorus, yet the busy, funkiness partially gums up the works. And Courtney, we know you’re cooler than we’ll ever be, but this stoner voice thing can grate. I guess “Root of All Evil” is a cute dance track — maybe — replete with horns and references to polar bears. “I Will Never Stop Loving You” features an unintelligible Debbie Harry in the chorus and Taylor-Taylor in high creep mode. Much of the song is tricked out with studio wizardry (plus piano), and it winds down in a lethargic, eerie, static fade. Is this a portend for the band? The fact that they got three bonified rock icons to help out and this is what they came up may be the answer.
