Tag Archives: The Smith Westerns

KLYAM Shuffle: Glen

Going along with the trend.

1. “Union Song” – The Nightwatchman – I haven’t listened to this guy in a year, at least. This is a refreshing song, not one of his best, but politically meaningful at least.

2. “Pick Yourself Down” – Gangbang Gordon – (Warning: this is my own song). I wrote this song on a night that I just wanted to write a song. I made a decent chord progression and then just ad-libbed for five minutes. So lyrically it’s a piece of shit…example: “Might as well call your lawyer. Take a seat in the foyer. If you think you’re gonna wait long, better write a fuckin’ song to help you through the times, to help you un-wind, amount of stress you’re in it’s not even worth telling your kin.” Yeah, for real. One more example, if I may: “She doesn’t get English. She was born in Spain. Bilingual education won’t even give her a reign. All she is is hot, I ain’t talkin’ looks. Just look at her face, you will give her a book. She ain’t nothin’ but a reader. She ain’t nothin’ but Aretha. When she stretches her chords.” Okay, I’ll stop. If anyone wants to listen to this song, let me know.

3. “Hippys” – Black Lips – One of their best non-album tunes. I like its southern country punk slime like a Sherman in a Suuuuuueeeeeeeeebaaaaaahhhhhhruuuuuuueee.

4. “Red Red Wine” – UB40 – Also another song that I don’t play too much. It gives me too much ’90s nostalgia. Good and bad. Usually bad things were associated with song like the show COPS. I definitely appreciate it, though.

5. “Hang On, Siobhan” – The Walkmen – A downer of a song. Beautifully written and meaningful. Nice if I want to get all introspective and shit, but I rarely do.

6. “Losing Feeling” – No Age – I bumped this heavy last year around this time, I think. One of the most ambient-yet-catchy No Age songs pre-Everything In Between. The sped up punk towards the end is pure awesomeness.

7. “Imagine Pt. 3” – The Smith Westerns – I added this song on a limb a couple of weeks ago. They are similar to Magic Kids (at least on this song), but more British and Beatles sounding. Also, pretty MGMT like. I do like this. Not so sure their debut album stuck out, but this next one is shaping up to be a little better. We’ll see.

CD Review: Smith Westerns

Band: Smith Westerns
Label: Hozac
Release: 2009

1. “Dreams” – 9.4
2. “Boys Are Fine” – 8.9
3. “Gimme Some Time” – 9.2
4. “Girl In Love” – 8.5
5. “We Stay Out” – 8.8
6. “Tonight” – 8.6
7. “Be My Girl” – 9.3
8. “The Glam Goddess” – 9.5
9. “Diamond Boys” – 9.2
10. “My Heart” – 9.6

Comments: Love the band name! They sound eerily similar to their homosexual counterparts, Hunx and His Punx. What does that even mean? Well, if you are like Benny Boy Tan and don’t get the obscure reference, let’s just say lo-fi garage. If you listen to both bands, you’ll get a great idea. I don’t know if I just got a really crappy quality download or if this is the real deal, but if the vocals were clear this thing would be much better. We got some Herman’s Hermits in here! I would definitely see this guys live, so I better not forget them.

Grade: 9.1