SMITH WESTERNS

To most ears 'Weekend' is still pretty damn lo-fi but having listened to the serrated edges and all encompassing fuzz of Smith Westerns debut album, well this new song sounds positively crystal. The first track to be taken from their Fat Possum debut, 'Weekend' sees Smith Westerns embrace their glam tendencies and adorn them with feather boas and a glittering pair of platforms whilst still retaining a certain slacker charm. Can you be glam and stoned at the same time? If so this is the sound of it.

'Dye It Blonde' will be Smith Western's gift to 2011 and hopefully one of the years first great albums. To have a listen to just what the boys have been spending their label money and studio time on then take a listen below.

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Meet: Smith Westerns

The list of albums I missed in 2009 is a bit too long really. Chiefly I'm currently listening to Cold Cave, Atlas Sound, St Vincent and Smith Western's debut.

For some reason I was mixing SW up with First Aid Kit, another young band but one who make nice but not my thing folk music. Smith Western's on the other hand specialise in ramshackle, bratty punk shanty's that are way more mature than their tender years.

The cover to the bands album is the world famous Nirvana sleeve for 'Nevermind' flipped over and spliced with a painting. You could maybe make a tenuous link between twisting rock icons and giving them a fresh outlook and Smith Western's but I'll just leave the music to do the talking.

MP3: Smith Western's - 'Be My Girl'

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