Odditorium Or Warlords of Mars

---

---

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Get beyond the ridiculous name and doubly ridiculous concept--in brief: the Dandy Warhols invented rock’n’roll sometime not long after World War One--and Odditorium Or Warlords Of Mars finds these Portland stoners on trippy good form. Gone is the arch social satire that drove numbers like "Bohemian Like You", but agreeably present and correct is the lust-for-life edge that powered the shoegaze-tinged popscapes of early Dandys albums like 1995’s Dandys Rule OK?

The epically-stoned "Love Is The New Feel Awful" sets the tone, Courtney Taylor-Taylor’s breathy vocals sprawling luxuriantly across the song’s first six minutes, before everything gradually disintegrates in a bad trip of caterwauling free-jazz trumpets; meanwhile, "Smoke It" – a rambunctious, party-time hymn to hedonism – further enhances the narcotically-enhanced mood. Arguably, the album’s highlight comes with "All The Money Or The Simple Life Honey" – a Stonesy, number that builds from minimal beginnings into a horn-laden anthem beamed in from some seedy ‘60s pool-hall. Over a decade in the game and the Dandy Warhols still sound like they’re having a ball: either it’s something they put in the water in Portland, Oregon, or the drugs are still most definitely working – Louis Pattison

---

From the Label
Named (at least in part) after the band’s recording studio in Portland, Odditorium or Warlords of Mars is the new album from The Dandy Warhols. Having formed in 1994, this is the Dandys’ fifth album and the first release since 2003’s Welcome To The Monkey House.
Odditorium… is an expansive rock ‘n’ roll album which could only come from the minds’ of the Dandys, and sees the band adding new flavours to their trademark mix of seamless rock hooks, turned-on drone, deep psychedelia and a big shot of the country blues. The first single "Smoke It" is a notable return to form as the band revisit and update the classic sound of their biggest album Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia.

---

Description
Fifth studio album from Oregon-born indie rockers the DandyWarhols. This is the follow-up to 2003's 'Welcome To The Monkey House' and sees the band develop their alternative rocksound. Produced by Courtney Taylor-Taylor and Gregg Williams, the album was recorded in their hometown of Portland. Thesingle 'Smoke It' is included.

---

Customer reviews

review by: deludedillusion date: 2007-05-11 rating:
What's with all these bad reviews?
Right, I need to give this album 5 stars just to raise the average a little bit! To the outsider, the Dandy's have 4 albums with 4.5 stars and then this, with 2.5. IT DOES NOT DESERVE THAT!
Personally, this is my favourite Dandy's album! No wait, what about 13 Tales? Oh, and Dandy's Rule... and Monkey House... OK I like all those four equally, just above Come Down which I don't rate quite as highly. Yes, this album is a little self indulgent, but can't a group who have produced several good albums afford to be a little self indulgent? Did anyone tell Pink Floyd off for Wish You Were Here? (Feel free to point out they recieved plenty of backlash for The Wall).
I find this album intensely listenable to, unless I try to concentrate just a little bit too hard on it. For example if I'm driving it's no good, I'll stick on 13 Tales or Monkey House... but I wont play with Dandys Rule either. Dandys Rule and Odditorium are what I like to listen to when I'm chillin, or maybe doing some of my research work. They work well stuck on and left, no tracks skipped, listening in the backgorund.
I just don't get some of the criticism levelled here. Love Is The New Feel Awful is NOT too long, I love it all the way to the end. The quirky songs are NOT too jokey, they break up the longer pieces. And to the person who has a problem with the names the band call their songs and even themselves... get a grip will you?!
In fact, the only minor issue that I have with this album is that nothing really stands out in the way that Junkie does on Come Down, Fast Driving Rave Up does on Dandys Rule, Bohemian Like You does on 13 Tales and The Last High does on Monkey House.
So, rant over. But it was time to give another perspective on this album from among the nay-sayers.

BUY IT!

---

review by: date: 2007-03-01 rating:
Dull
This is one of the most self indulgent ego trips i have ever heard! I loved the first 3 dandys records and even monkey house was fresh and interesting but this? Its as if they have run out of ideas to the point were the same riffs are repeated from earlier records and just dragged on and on to fill up the running time.One would have thought that after a slightly irritating appearance in the Dig! film the band would have jumped at the chance to record a classic, but what you find is an extremely egotistical and cringe worthy jam session! not just that but the band just sound bored! Odditorium is lacking in feel and direction. Sad really, i used to rave about these guys. now i can see why a lot of people hate them. avoid.

---

review by: hostelgirl date: 2006-12-04 rating:
not as good as some previous stuff but still good
I nearly didnt buy this album based on some reviews but glad i did. I'm a big fan and have all their other albums and have seen them live (great live band!)
This is not as commercial/accessible as earlier stuff but it is a grower. Its good that the band have tried to go their own way a bit rather than cashing in with the tried and tested formula. Vocalist Courtney Taylor-Taylor tries new vocal styles rather than the old Lou Reed-esque style he normally goes for. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes not.
It's a good one for late night, just got back from a night out, kind of thing. Although some of the tracks are a bit rambling, over all a good listen. Don't give up after one listen though, you will get to like it. Maybe not quite as much as the other Dandy's albums but nearly! .

---

review by: date: 2006-10-03 rating:
Another slow burning classic
Gets better with every listen - Holding Me Up is as good as anything they've have done, see them live and love it!!!


review by: date: 2006-02-24 rating:
Dandy's at Their Best
Well i came on here before buying the album to read the reviews and after was reticent to buy.

Well i'm really glad i didn't listen. The album is ablsolute class, i do agree that "Love is the New Feel Awful" is 5 minutes too long, but hell you can just move onto the next track.

I'm not going to babble on about particular tracks being good or bad, as that's down to personal preference. All i would say is, if you like what the dandy's are about, then you will get into this album and enjoy it.

---

Similar products

Welcome to the Monkey House
Dandys Rule OK
Come Down
Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia
Our Love to Admire

---

Similar categories

Music . Styles . Indie . Bestsellers
Music . Styles . Pop . Bestsellers
Music . Styles . Pop . General AAS
Music . Styles . Adult Contemporary . Bestsellers
Music . Styles . Adult Contemporary . Pop Rock
Music . Styles . Rock . General AAS
Music . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . CD . CD Album

---