★★★½
The Dandy Warhols have returned with one of the more inspired and diverse records in their recent years.
2012’s This Machine was a similarly solid exercise in fine form, if only mired by the frequent lyrical touchstone that was ageing gracefully as a band. Not a taboo topic at all, of course, but its frequent reference made it feel that way – the results were sometimes endearing, sometimes shaky but ultimately a little too pervasive across the whole record. You couldn’t not think about it.
With Distortland the group have really hit their post-Capitol stride, confining their “I’m too old for this shit” sentiment to one song and ultimately having fun with the rest of the album. ‘Search Party’ opens the record with a drone-inspired jam that lulls just a little – it’s sonically stimulating nonetheless, but an interesting opener. The record picks up the pace later on – ‘Catcher In The Rye’ is a lovely pop song filtered through the same Americana charm that permeated their early ’00s repertoire. Elsewhere there are bongos, bowed guitar, hand claps, a great chorus in ‘Give’ and plenty of tongue-in-cheek.
Fans of old will find plenty of comfort food to survive the winter on Distortland.
DistortlandbyThe Dandy Warhols is out now onDine Alone/Cooking Vinyl.
