Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde

4.0

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The second album from the Chicago band, Smith Westerns – witnesses a significant shift in production value from their previous self-titled effort. The stark contrast between the fuzzy lo-fi aesthetic and a more sophisticated, polished sound is the first thing you’d notice, but that isn’t all.

Dye It Blonde opens with the jubilant and insanely catchy, Weekend – the infectious lead guitar riff might make the song interesting - but the youthful, sunny chorus elevates gives it a more classic edge. This sound seeps into the rest of the record effortlessly, whether on the upbeat tracks or the slower ones – the feeling of exuberance consumes each and every one of the tracks on the album.

Another thing about Dye It Blonde is the seamlessness by which the tracks are layered – the way the nuanced music takes precedence over the blurry vocals is absolutely harmonious, as on Imagine Pt. 3 and the bittersweet End of the Night. Influences obviously range from the happy-go-lucky 60’s pop a la the Beach Boys to a certain affinity for epic guitar riffs recalling the anthemic nature of 70’s rock ‘n roll.

Smith Westerns have - without a doubt - succeeded in perfecting their sound by delivering a kickass, yet strangely chilled-out record.

Editor review

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