The buzz surrounding this young Chicago band is a reflection of the enduring appeal of catchy boy meets girl pop songs fuelled by a mix of charming simplicity and irritating naivety.
The Chicago band - brothers Cullen and Cameron Omori and Max Kakacek -released a lo-fi eponymous album in 2009 while still in high school and Dye It Blonde is their first UK release on Domino's new imprint, Weird World (Fat Possum in the US).
The glam-pop of Bowie and Bolan are cited as inspirations in their press release but the slightly cheesy guitar lines made me think more of the 1970s 'pop sensation' Pilot and their bouncy singles Magic and January.
On a more American note there is also a strong element of Phil Spector's hit factory and more than a hint of psychedelia.
Whether it appeals to you or not depends a lot on how much you can stomach the clean-cut chirpiness.
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"Love and lust, how come that is such a must?" they enquire coyly on Imagine Pt.3. and maintain that "Everybody wants to be a star on a Saturday night"(End Of The Night)
The ten tracks are a sugar-high soundtrack that evokes shopping malls, first dates, candy bars, cute prom girls and diners.
It is uncomplicated pop and , as they are still under 21, you can forgive them their youthful optimism but the cynic in me says that theirs is a sound with a limited shelf life.
Smith Westerns on Myspace
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