Dye It Blonde - Smith Westerns
Dye It Blonde Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 34 Ratings

  • Summary: Chicago's Smith Westerns take psychedelic rock to the next level with their second album of David Bowie-inspired vocals and catchy melodies.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 30
  2. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Jan 20, 2011
    100
    Gorgeous fuzz guitar leads and glam rock glitter dominate, offset by soft layered harmonies and dreamy textures.
  2. May 12, 2011
    80
    This is glorious summer music, possibly the summer of 1974, but sunshine all round none the less.
  3. May 31, 2011
    80
    An effortless marriage of modern dream-pop loops and classical 70s guitar lines, it entertains notions of Thin Lizzy and Steely Dan, while producer Chris Coady lends the whole a steadfastly modern feel. [Jun 2011, p.120]
  4. May 18, 2011
    60
    The remainder unfurls in similar fashion: laudably spirited, often astoundingly catchy and entirely indebted to the past. [Jun 2011, p.101]

See all 30 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. Total step up in production from the debut. They cleaned things up and actually wrote some awesomely memorable songs. If you like rock, you should like this. You can easily see the T Rex and brit pop influence in the record. 10 love songs that fly by in a flash, whats not to love... Expand
  2. The idea behind this album is brilliant. It handles itself very well. Dye it Blonde wants nothing more than to have you listen, and just groove. The songs, each between two and four minutes in length, is meticulously crafted. Smith Westerns bring back the fun of the 70's while still pulling in to the 21st century. The great thing about this album is its head nodding ability. Dye it Blonde will put you in a good mood each listen, and make you want to nod your head and crack some brews open. Expand
  3. j30
    5
    After hearing Weekend and reading some of the review on Metacritic I thought I'd give Dye It Blonde by the Smith Westerns a try. The result felt unsatisfying as hearing some the songs I've heard from Real Estate. The lyrics are catchy, while the music is pretty bland for me. I really wanted to like it, but it's pretty forgettable stuff. Expand
  4. This album is really pretty horrible. I am finding it hard to listen for more than five seconds without literally cringing in discomfort at how bad it is. I really don't get it. Gets a 2 for being better than the Decemberists. Expand

See all 6 User Reviews