What makes Dye It Blonde by Smith Westerns notable?

Dye It Blonde received critical acclaim, appearing on numerous year-end lists and solidifying Smith Westerns' place in the indie rock landscape. The album's infectious hooks and vibrant production garnered attention, leading to a notable chart position on both the Billboard Heatseekers and College charts, which helped elevate the band's profile. Released in January 2011, Dye It Blonde is Smith Westerns' second album, following their self-titled debut. At this point, the band had gained initial recognition within the indie rock scene, building on the success of their first record while continuing to evolve their sound into a more polished and ambitious direction.

How many songs are on Dye It Blonde?

Dye It Blonde has 10 tracks, running approximately 35 minutes.

Dye It Blonde

Smith Westerns · 2011

35 min · 10 tracks · indie rock

A shimmering blend of jangly guitars and nostalgic melodies that evoke the carefree spirit of youth.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Weekend — The opening track sets an upbeat tone with its catchy chorus and bright instrumentation, encapsulating the youthful exuberance that defines much of the album.
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Still New — This song features introspective lyrics wrapped in a lush soundscape, showcasing the band's ability to combine emotional depth with melodic flair.
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Fallen in Love — With its dreamy melodies and romantic themes, this track exemplifies the band's knack for creating infectious pop-infused rock music.
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End of the Night — The track's reflective nature and layered harmonies highlight the band's growth as songwriters, balancing nostalgia with a sense of urgency.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album features strong melodies and vibrant production, though it follows familiar indie rock templates.

What we noticed

The album opens with a bright, jangly guitar riff in 'Weekend' that sets an upbeat tone for the first half.
The tempo slows down significantly in the latter half, particularly in 'End of the Night' and 'Dye the World', creating a reflective mood.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

Still New

In the chorus, a shift occurs where fleeting moments of joy contrast sharply with underlying feelings of uncertainty.

This juxtaposition reveals a deeper complexity in the narrator's emotions, allowing for an exploration of how happiness can coexist with doubt.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Weekend 3:22
2 Still New 4:12
3 Imagine, Part 3 3:33
4 All Die Young 3:46
5 Fallen in Love 2:29
6 End of the Night 3:26
7 Only One 3:23
8 Smile 4:10
9 Dance Away 2:46
10 Dye the World 4:10

What to play next

Listen next

Soft Will

2013

Go back to

The Smith Westerns

2009

Full Smith Westerns discography Artists like Smith Westerns

indie rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata