hiponline.com's Welcome To The Monkey House review

hiponline.com
Welcome To The Monkey House
by Rae Gun
August 18, 2003

The Good: “I Am Sound” – Very understated yet big on loveliness.
“Plan A” – Good god is this Duran Duran making a come back or The Dandy’s kicking it to another gear? “All of us sick about it” and it’s an ill I don’t want cured.
“You Were The Last High” – It takes off in a swirl and continues into its awkward circles. The only piece of the track that can get annoying is the overly extended “High, IIII(for what seems like forever)” at the end of chorus. They could have left it alone.

The Average:
“We Used To Be Friends” – Off the mark. I can’t quite figure out what is up with the understated singing by Courtney Taylor-Taylor. I can understand how they get all Duran Duran on our asses – Nick Rhodes co-produced.
“Hit Rock Bottom” – If you can clap along in rhythm you’ll dig it.
“The Dandy Warhols Love Almost Everyone” – Usually a falsetto from those not known for it will inspire a painful expression. Taylor-Taylor makes it work much like Michael Stipe did during Monster.
“I Am The Scientist” – A scientist might have cooked up a better track. It’s anti-religion message – perhaps not that obvious. “I can live on science alone”.
“The Dope” – The beat is dope, the rest is a lot more understated.
The Ugly:
Zippo.

Frankly: What I don’t get is why most of the vocals are so understated. Courtney Taylor-Taylor gets lost in himself and the beat goes on. Musically The Dandy Warhols give us a delicious main course yet Taylor-Taylor seems inspired not to be so inspired.