Just as it’s not the best idea to judge a book by its cover, it’s also not advisable to judge an album by its insipid title. Led Zeppelin IV and Leonard Cohen’s Ten New Songs being obvious cases in point.
To the list of uninspired album titles which hide a fine bunch of songs, we can now add the most recent disc by the Dandy Warhols. For within the grooves of Rockmaker, there is a cracking collection of lively and snarky Power Pop tunes. There are also a stella group of mates on board, including Slash, Black Francis and everybody’s favourite American Nan, Debbie Harry, who clearly aren’t just there for the ride but who all add something worthwhile to the fun – especially Slash’s howling guitar soloing on the wild and sleazy “I’d Like to Help You with Your Problem”.
Highlights on this album are many and include the dirty electronics and fuzzy guitar-fest of “The Cross” and the nasty funk of “Root of all Evil”, as well as the hip-swinging single “Summer of Hate”. But to pick out individual tunes is somewhat pointless, for there are no duff tracks on Rockmaker whatsoever. And that’s not something that can often be said about a 12th album release by a band that have been around for 30 years. Certainly not by one who are still knocking out fine hymns to hedonism like “Alcohol and Cocainemarijuananicotine”.
The Dandy Warhols have never put out anything approaching the same album twice, yet they have an unmistakeable sound of their own, with more than a hefty dose of their characteristic waspishness. Rockmaker is a more than worthy addition to their catalogue and, in fact, it could just as easily be the sound of a group of eager young bucks hitting the studio for the first time.
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