erin_broadley

If you don't like the Dandy Warhols latest record, Earth to the Dandy Warhols, right now, give it a listen in a few years. You'll probably love it. While the Warhols have achieved some mainstream success, their music has rarely been appreciated by the masses at the time of its release. Frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor's rejection of whatever is current and trendy has resonated with fans and puzzled scenesters since 1995. In the past decade, the Dandies have done everything from droning Velvet-Underground-style rock to bouncy 80s synth-pop. This time around, despite flirting with disco a little bit at the beginning of the album, they've made a solid guitar record. In fact, some of the biggest names in guitar make guest appearances here: Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) and Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers). Taylor-Taylor's infamous wit has remained constant through all the changes in the Dandy's sound, so it's no surprise that he had some interesting thing to tell SuicideGirls about trends, innovation, and his band's new album. Jay Hathaway: Where are you today? How's the touring going so far? Courtney Taylor-Taylor: I'm home. Tour was amazing. We played all but three shows in the country at night. Castles and fortresses tour of Europe. JH: Five or six years ago, you seemed to have a serious vendetta against huge pants. What was your problem with them? CTT: Ha. Huge pants. Hahahaha. So silly. JH: You actually stopped wearing something because everyone else was doing it? You don't seem like someone who would really care what everyone else is doing. CTT: Oh, I most certainly do care what everyone else is doing and I usually want no part of it. Like religion and TV and fashion trends. JH: What's the worst fashion trend of the past few years? CTT: Well, I had to stop wearing stretch jeans when everyone started wearing them. That bummed me out, but whatever. At least a lot of people looked cooler for a minute. JH: Who do you think of as innovative in music right now? CTT: Jack White always is. I like Black Moth Super Rainbow. TV on the Radio is probably the most innovative project in the world today. We're very innovative on a number of levels. Timbaland is always trying to innovate and usually does. Pop Levi is pretty great too. The Fleet Foxes are very innovative when they're not being a jam band. JH: Have you noticed anybody ripping off the Dandies recently? CTT: You mean besides the Switches? God I loved that song. I'm not sure if I'd recognize it if we got ripped cause I would probably just think, "Wow, this is cool. Just how rock should be made." I tend to like bands that people say sound like us. JH: What are you most proud of about your new record? Any regrets? CTT: I'm proud to have made a record without any regrets. I'm most proud of just how fuckin' good this record is. My band is a pack of such creative weirdos and everyone works their ass off to get it to happen. And for, like, two years more or less nonstop in the studio. What a beast this thing is. JH: You're known for changing up your sound dramatically with each album. Which of your previous records are you most bored with right now? Which one holds up best for you? CTT: Just heard Monkey House when we were in Belgium and it sounded incredible. The new one blew my mind a week or so later at a party in Galway. I haven't heard our other records for a while so I'm not bored of any of them. JH: How do you feel about the state of the recording industry right now? What would you like to see happen to it? CTT: I like it. There's a lot of great music getting heard by the people whom it is intended for. What more could one want? JH: What's the most accurate thing a critic has ever said about you? CTT: The Warhols make the brightest possible music from the darkest place. JH: What was playing with Mark Knopfler like? Did you have a lot in common with him? How would he rate as a drinking buddy? CTT: Mike Campbell is the drinkin' buddy type. Mark Knopfler is a long dinner with an '85 Chateauneuf-du-Pape kinda buddy. Great stories without any sudden bursts of energy. JH: What's the best guitar record you've heard lately? CTT: Probably Earth to the Dandy Warhols. JH: What was the last book you finished? Was it any good? CTT: Robert Ludlum something. Definitely not anything I recommend for anyone NOT on tour. Easy to read and if you lose your place you can just start anywhere. I would've loved to meet the guy, though. Damn smart motherfucker. JH: You've said a lot about how spontaneously your band creates songs. What was the most intentional, premeditated thing about Earth to the Dandy Warhols? CTT: Showing up at practice on time. JH: Is there a particular context in which one can optimally enjoy your new album? CTT: For who? Me? I'd say drunk after playing a show. That's when I don't want to talk to anyone and Im tired and can't play anymore but don't want the music to end. JH: What's the best line you've ever written, and why? CTT: I can't think of every line right now and/or analyze their value on the spot but what comes to mind is "just a casual, casual easy thing. Is it? It is for me." I find that one just so clear and sweet. I really don't write them, though. I'm not a good enough writer to come up with stuff like that. I just sort of wait around and leave myself open to them and sooner or later they come. I'm kind of uncomfortable taking credit for it. JH: You've put a lot of money back into the band (by building The Odditorium, for example), but what's the most ridiculous or extravagant thing you've spent money on? CTT: I'm pretty frugal. Can't think of anything right off. JH: What is your relationship with Portland like right now? You seem to be in love/hate with one another. CTT: I love it right now. We've been more or less forgotten again and that's always the time that I enjoy home the most. Our new record is getting a lot of attention so Im expecting things to get nasty again pretty soon. We're doing a lot less press this time and that should help. This "new" Portland can be a competitive and bitter little place. JH: After DiG!, would you ever consider being the subject of a documentary again? CTT: Nope. Ridiculous. Don't let anyone else edit you. They can make you into anything they want. JH: What are your observations about people who really get the Dandy Warhols? What else do they have in common? CTT: They're probably frustrated with themselves somewhat regularly but they admit it and maybe even enjoy the cleansing process of mucking around in their deepest, blackest, shittiest parts of their character. I have found that the most consistent thing is they all seem to be actively interested in being better people. That and they're consistently the kind of people who are culturally fairly well informed.

Earth to the Dandy Warhols is in stores now. For more information and tour dates go to www.dandywarhols.com.