Smith Westerns: "Dye It Blonde"

This young Chicago quartet's sophomore release falls squarely into glam-meets-garage territory, except that it wasn't created in a garage or a basement this time around. Sonic spit-shine makes faster tracks "Weekend" and "Imagine, Pt. 3" sparkle, while slower numbers like "Only One" and "Still New" are laced with both bubblegum and Bowie influences. Many of these songs turn down the irony that's dominated the indie-rock scene for so long and crank up the sincerity - or the appearance of sincerity - especially on the giddily nostalgic "End of the Night."