Hillzoo's Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia review
Hillzoo.com
Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia
by Brian Walsworth
April 27, 2001

You might, but probably don't, remember the Dandy Warhols for their 1997 minor hit, "Not if You Were the Last Junkie on Earth." I certainly didn't. But when a CD as good as the Dandy Warhols' "13 Tales from Urban Bohemia" is virtually ignored by radio in the United States, it's obvious that there must be some kind of sinister conspiracy against bands with talent and an knack for writing sharp, catchy, and cool music.

Once upon a time, when MTV actually played videos, a band like the Dandy Warhols would have probably found their way to stardom much faster. Instead, MTV now gives us the dreadful "Total Request Live," "The Real World" and "Jackass."

The MTV programming "wizards" would argue I'm just too old to fit their demographic. I, however, would argue that they just suck. Whichever it is, the unfortunate result is that it's now even easier for a band as good as the Dandy Warhols to slip through the cracks.

Rated one of the 40 best albums of 2000 by Q Magazine (one of England's answers to Rolling Stone), not to mention "Best of 2000" lists from Wall of Sound (www.wallofsound.com), CDnow (www.Cdnow.com) and a host of others, 13 Tales has become a huge success in England, and recently went Gold in Australia.

Based out of Portland, Oregon, the Dandy Warhols' influences include Lou Reed, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Iggy Pop. Because of these varied influences, if you don't like one song, just wait for the next one and chances are pretty good that you'll find something more your style. If you want something a little on the hard side, cue up "Nietzche," or "Horse Pills." Want something a little more laid back? Try the psychedelic, dreamy "Godless" or a soft and creepy track like "Sleep." Want to move around a little? Pseudo-dance alternative songs like "Solid" and pop winners "Bohemian Like You" and "Get Off" are probably your speed.

What's even more impressive is the Dandys manage to cram this many styles onto one CD without sounding like the only thing they've left out is the kitchen sink.

"Horse Pills" is a hilarious song set to a grungy industrial beat about an aging starlet who traipses around the country with her young stud love toy, "cruising and boozing and rocking on the horse size pills." After a few listens, you might find yourself checking out your medicine cabinet because the Dandys make it sound like so much fun.

The catchiest and best tune on the CD is "Bohemian Like You." Bohemian more than borrows the riff from the Rolling Stones' "Brown Sugar," but mocks the dating scene so well that it's easy to forgive the band for what most people might call piracy. This is alterna-pop at its best, and it's virtually inexcusable that only college radio and a bunch of folks from England and Australia have picked up on it.

Lead singer Courtney Taylor-Taylor (Yes, it's supposed to be Taylor-Taylor) displays an impressive range, from the deep baritone on "Horse Pills," "Solid" and "Shakin'" to a high tenor on "Godless" and "Sleep" to his Lou Reed as a redneck imitation on the "Country Leaver."

13 Tales is the best virtually ignored album of the past year. There's no rhyme or reason to why no one has heard of them. Go buy it. You'll be happy you did.

Finding the Warhols in DC area music stores has been hit-and-miss. But you can order 13 Tales from any number of online sites. The band's web site can be viewed at www.dandywarhols.com.