August 4, 2000
THIRTEEN TALES FROM URBAN BOHEMIA
By DARRYL STERDAN

Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia
The Dandy Warhols
(Capitol-EMI)

On the musical map, Urban Bohemia is right on the border of Pretentious Slackerville -- and sometimes on The Dandy Warhols' maddeningly inconsistent third CD, it's hard to tell which side of the tracks they're on. This Portland trio's effortlessly eclectic style, which runs the gamut from blissful, hazy folk-pop to fuzzed-out stoner-rock, bombastic space-rock and jittery new-wave, is a double-edged sword: When you hit a stretch of tunes that click -- like the Iggy-ish trio of Country Leaver, Solid and Horse Pills -- it makes them seem like talented multi-taskers. But when you hit a stretch that doesn't, they just seem unfocused and indecisive. A few too many five-minute songs that are long on meandering melodies and short on sharp hooks don't help. Don't be fooled by the Jumpin' Jack Flash sizzle of single Bohemian Like You; only about half these Thirteen Tales are worth hearing more than once.

Track Listing 1.Godless
  02.Mohammed
  03.Nietzsche
  04.Country Leaver
  05.Solid
  06.Horse Pills
  07.Get Off
  08.Sleep
  09.Cool Scene
  10.Bohemian Like You
  11.Shakin'
  12.Big Indian
  13.The Gospel