Smith Westerns – S/T (2009) [HoZac] // Grade: A+

It’s rare I find myself earnestly head over heels excited for a new band. I’m talking about the kind of dance around your house glee where your only goal is to spread your new favorite band’s gospel of sound. Meet the Smith Westerns, a Chicago teenage garage pop quartet with a debut album so good it just might save this city, one chord and three sneers at a time.

Not entirely unlike the early sound and success of the Beatles, the Smith Westerns’ music rides on jangly guitar melodies and thematic innocence. The foursome aren’t afraid to embrace their youth, crafting sing along lyrics of adventure and love. There is a rebellious, teenage wasteland abandon in their noisy guitar, made only greater by antagonistic, jeering vocalizations. Nearly every track on the Smith Westerns self-titled debut is under three minutes in length, with the full album clocking in at an ADD-friendly 29 minutes.

Balance is the biggest strength of this album, and each of the 10 tracks are hugely successful at giving equal projection to the band’s hooks and growling guitar. Words are never lost to the noise, and this dexterity suggests a musical prowess far beyond their young years. The chanting chorus of “Tonight” remains in perfect sync with each crash of guitar and the band’s most notable track, “Girl In Love” similarly pairs stammering yelps of, “Ooh. Ooh. Love.” with stuttering strums.

Don’t be fooled by their disaffected demeanor or boyish charm, the Smith Westerns debut is a powerhouse of an album, chock full of spirit, enthusiasm and raw talent.

- Scrooge McFuck