Odditorium Or Warlords Of Mars
by The Dandy Warhols
  • Record Label: Capitol
  • Release Date: Sep 13, 2005
User Score
6.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 44 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 44
  3. Negative: 10 out of 44

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  1. ScottP
    Oct 24, 2005
    6
    Some great tracks surrounded by utter garbage. I'm usually never one to press the next track button, but this album is forcing me to do it more than once. A huge disappointment. Can a band be too alternative?
  2. Allan
    Sep 17, 2005
    6
    As a normal album by a band? Pretty damn good. As a Dandy Warhols album? Easily their weakest. Still contains (some) brilliant moments, like the pro-pot jam 'Smoke It' and the absolutely gorgeous 'Everyone is Totally Insane'. But 'There is Only This Time' may be the worst song the band has ever done, and some of the other songs just leave no general As a normal album by a band? Pretty damn good. As a Dandy Warhols album? Easily their weakest. Still contains (some) brilliant moments, like the pro-pot jam 'Smoke It' and the absolutely gorgeous 'Everyone is Totally Insane'. But 'There is Only This Time' may be the worst song the band has ever done, and some of the other songs just leave no general impression. 'Love is the New Feel Awful' opens up gorgeously, and it a fine song, until the long ending section of music that isn't either emotionally engaging nor interesting. Despite the ending, an alright song though. Another song that is enjoyable enough is the hoedown 'the New Country'. Get their other albums instead first though.… Expand
  3. SabreN
    Nov 16, 2005
    5
    I've been with the Warhols since the beginning so I have witnessed the 'transformation' of their sound in real time. For me, its never been about the rock star posturing, glorification of hedonism, or the battle to not sell out while, in fact, selling out. Its always been about the music, which I was completely enthralled with through their first three albums. I initially I've been with the Warhols since the beginning so I have witnessed the 'transformation' of their sound in real time. For me, its never been about the rock star posturing, glorification of hedonism, or the battle to not sell out while, in fact, selling out. Its always been about the music, which I was completely enthralled with through their first three albums. I initially thought 'Monkey House' was a joke and then proceeded to wait for the real album to come out, only to realize that that kick-to-the-groin of a compilation was it. After that fiasco, I really had no expectations for 'Warlords' which was good. While not the terribly awful album its predecessor was, 'Warlords' is certainly not on par with the work we have seen from this band, namely '...Come Down.' My honest opinion is that there will likely be zero new DW fans from this album (I recognize this is hardly the point, however) and old-timers (such as myself) will once again be questioning our faith and commitment to all things Dandy. Some jewels ('Holding Me Up' and 'Down Like Disco') amidst their one signiture radio song per album ('Smoke It', coincidentally their weakest radio song of all the albums), Monkey-esque indulgences ('Love is the New Feel Awful' and 'Everyone is Totally Insane'), mixed in with throwaway tracks which are borderline insulting ('Colder than the Coldest Winter Was Cold' and 'Otis') does not a great effort make. While it appears that this albums seems to "grow" on many listeners, other than the aforementioned jewels saved to my iPod, the rest of the fodder--and I have listened to the album 30 to 40 times--will be placed on my Dandy junkpile, right on top of 'I Am A Scientist.' I am still a Dandy through and through (for better or worse), but I am more inclined to listen to members of the family tree these days: The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Warlocks, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and the moring after girls. I hate saying this so much, but I'd rather recommend listening to those bands albums and DW's pre-Monkey efforts than this. Its a sad day when I have to admit that my rose-colored, Dandy Warhols 3-D glasses are coming off.… Expand
  4. JontyV
    Sep 16, 2005
    6
    Some great and terrible movements make this album truly hypociritcal.
  5. AlexV
    Sep 21, 2005
    5
    The criticism is that the Dandy's are trying to hard to be taken seriously and while this is true the fact remains that this record released by any of the more fashionable critical darlings of the time would be greated by intermittent cries of greatness. This doesn't mean the record is any good but does shed some light on the politics of music.
  6. TinoS
    Sep 21, 2005
    4
    No direction. This was recorded and forgotten. Save your money for The New Lows.
  7. GlennF
    Sep 22, 2005
    4
    This album is a career killer from the only band who used to be worth listening to, what a shame.

Awards & Rankings

94
#94 Most Discussed Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 24
  3. Negative: 4 out of 24
  1. E! Online
    58
    We'd rather watch the Dandys than listen to 'em.
    Read full review
  2. Drowned In Sound
    80
    Whilst a complete reinvention of rock this may not be, a beautiful soaring record for messy nights and hungover Sundays, it most certainly is.
    Read full review
  3. AllMusic
    60
    Something this indulgent could only be a labor of love, but even die-hard Dandy Warhols fans might find embracing this album to be too much work.
    Read full review
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