Welcome to the Monkey House (album)

Last updated

Welcome to the Monkey House
Welcome To The Monkey House.jpg
Studio album by
The Dandy Warhols
ReleasedMay 5, 2003
RecordedSeptember 11, 2001 – December 2, 2002
Genre New wave [1] [2]
Length48:27
Label Capitol
Producer
The Dandy Warhols chronology
Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia
(2000)		Welcome to the Monkey House
(2003)		 The Black Album/Come On Feel The Dandy Warhols
(2004)
Singles from Welcome to the Monkey House
  1. "We Used to Be Friends"
    Released: April 23, 2003
  2. "You Were the Last High"
    Released: July 28, 2003
  3. "Plan A"
    Released: November 24, 2003

Welcome to the Monkey House is the fourth studio album by American rock band The Dandy Warhols. The album was recorded between September 2001 and December 2002, and released on May 5, 2003 through record label Capitol.

Contents

The album was originally mixed by Grammy Award-winning soul music engineer Russell Elevado, but Capitol Records were unhappy with releasing it, instead opting for a more polished, new wave-influenced mix by Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran. The original mix of the album was later released as The Dandy Warhols Are Sound in 2009.

The album's lead single "We Used to Be Friends" was the theme song to the popular TV series Veronica Mars as well as its subsequent film adaptation. Two further singles were released from the album: "You Were the Last High" and "Plan A".

Background and recording

Welcome to the Monkey House was recorded between studios in Portland, Oregon, London and New York between September 11, 2001 and December 2, 2002. [3]

The album features musical and production collaborations with Nick Rhodes, Tony Visconti, Nile Rodgers and Evan Dando. [3]

Content

The album's title was inspired by Kurt Vonnegut's short story of the same name. [4]

The musical style of Welcome to the Monkey House was described by XRay Magazine as a "belligerent, snotty-nosed, speed-fueled romp through sinister electro punk, slightly corrupt melodic rock and skew-whiff handle of 80s glam-sodden pop, albeit refracted through a knowing noughties thrift store cool." [5] Courtney Taylor-Taylor cited The Faint as a musical influence during the production of the album. [6]

The album's cover features a painting by Ron English, [7] and is a prime example of the artist's signature mash-up style, featuring a banana half-exposed by a zipper down its peel in a reference to the iconic Andy Warhol album covers for The Velvet Underground's The Velvet Underground & Nico and The Rolling Stones's Sticky Fingers

Mix

The album was originally mixed by Grammy Award-winning soul music engineer Russell Elevado, but the band's label at the time, Capitol Records, were unhappy with releasing it, [8] and instead released a more polished, new wave-inspired mix by Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran. [8]

The Elevado mix was released as The Dandy Warhols Are Sound on the band's own Beat the World record label in 2009. In the same year, guitarist Peter Holmström stated the Nick Rhodes mix "was not the version I wanted released". [9]

Release

Three singles were released from the album: "We Used to Be Friends" on April 23, 2003, "You Were the Last High" on July 28, and "Plan A" on November 24. [10] "We Used to Be Friends" went on to become the theme music for the popular TV series Veronica Mars and its subsequent film adaptation.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 73/100 [11]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The A.V. Club favorable [12]
Robert Christgau A− [13]
Drowned in Sound Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [14]
Entertainment Weekly B [15]
Kludge 6/10 [16]
Pitchfork 3.3/10 [17]
PopMatters favorable [18]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [19]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [20]

The album was generally well-received critically. AllMusic wrote, "With their fifth album [...] the band capitalizes on their pop sensibilities and even manages to turn their prior weaknesses into strengths, resulting in a collection of gloriously blank, cleverly stupid neo-new wave songs." [1] Robert Christgau gave the album an A− rating, calling it "clever and droll but also hypnotic and mysterious". [13]

A negative review came from Pitchfork , which gave the album a low 3.3/10 rating and wrote "these songs highlight the poseur mentality and insincerity that paradoxically plagues and blesses The Dandy Warhols". [17] Sunday Herald wrote "Sometimes over-indulgence can be fun, but Welcome to the Monkey House is simply too much." [21]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Courtney Taylor-Taylor, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Alternate titleLength
1."Welcome to the Monkey House" (intro)  1:04
2."We Used to Be Friends"Taylor-Taylor, Grant Nicholas, Bjorn Thorsrud  3:20
3."Plan A"  4:01
4."Wonderful You" "The Dope (Wonderful You)"4:37
5."Scientist"Taylor-Taylor, David Bowie "I Am a Scientist"3:13
6."I Am Over It"  3:50
7."The Dandy Warhols Love Almost Everyone"  1:54
8."Insincere" "Insincere Because I"3:49
9."You Were the Last High" Evan Dando, Taylor-Taylor"The Last High"4:46
10."Heavenly"  3:36
11."I Am Sound"  4:00
12."Rock Bottom" "Hit Rock Bottom"2:53
13."(You Come In) Burned" "You Come In Burned"7:24

The alternate titles listed above are the song titles as printed on the back cover, disc and in the liner notes of non-U.S. editions of the album, apart from "The Last High", which was the credited title of "You Were the Last High" on U.S. pressings (despite maintaining the full title when released as a single).

Enhanced CD content

The enhanced CD contains the short film The End of the Old as We Know It, written and directed by Courtney Taylor-Taylor, and a link to The Odditorium, a no-longer-active website where fans could "see band web casts, play games and download exclusive music and mayhem".

Personnel

The Dandy Warhols

Additional musicians

Production

Charts

Chart performance for Welcome to the Monkey House
Chart (2003)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [22] 5
Australian DVD (ARIA) [23] 1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [24] 46
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [25] 22
French Albums (SNEP) [26] 62
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [27] 75
Irish Albums (IRMA) [28] 19
Italian Albums (FIMI) [29] 69
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [30] 31
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [31] 3
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [32] 83
UK Albums (OCC) [33] 20
US Billboard 200 [34] 118

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Rhodes</span> English musician and keyboardist of Duran Duran (born 1962)

Nick Rhodes is an English keyboardist and producer, best known as a founding member and the keyboardist of the band Duran Duran. He is also informally monikered as "the Controller", after being introduced as such on stage by bandmate Simon Le Bon during the Astronaut album world tours of 2004–2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dandy Warhols</span> American alternative rock band

The Dandy Warhols are an American psychedelic/alternative rock band, formed in Portland, Oregon, in 1994 by singer-guitarist Courtney Taylor-Taylor and guitarist Peter Holmström. They were later joined by keyboardist Zia McCabe and drummer Eric Hedford. Hedford left in 1998 and was replaced by Taylor-Taylor's cousin Brent DeBoer. The band's name is a play on the name of American pop artist Andy Warhol.

<i>Duran Duran</i> (1993 album) 1993 studio album by Duran Duran

Duran Duran is the seventh studio album and the second self-titled album by English rock band Duran Duran. It was released on 15 February 1993 by Parlophone.

<i>Dandys Rule OK</i> 1995 studio album by The Dandy Warhols

Dandys Rule OK is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band The Dandy Warhols, recorded from 1994 to 1995 and released on 6 April 1995 by Tim/Kerr Records.

<i>...The Dandy Warhols Come Down</i> 1997 studio album by The Dandy Warhols

...The Dandy Warhols Come Down is the second studio album by American rock band The Dandy Warhols. It was released on July 15, 1997, by Capitol.

<i>Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia</i> 2000 studio album by The Dandy Warhols

Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia is the third album by American rock band The Dandy Warhols, released on June 12, 2000, through record label Capitol.

<i>Odditorium or Warlords of Mars</i> 2005 studio album by The Dandy Warhols

Odditorium or Warlords of Mars is the fifth studio album by American rock band The Dandy Warhols. It was recorded from April 2004 to January 2005 in the band's own Odditorium studio, and was released on September 13, 2005, through Capitol Records; their final album before parting ways with the label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planet Earth (Duran Duran song)</span> 1981 single by Duran Duran

"Planet Earth" is the debut single by English new wave band Duran Duran, released on 2 February 1981.

<i>White Feathers</i> 1983 studio album by Kajagoogoo

White Feathers is the debut album by English new wave band Kajagoogoo, released on 18 April 1983 by EMI Records. The album contains their most successful single, "Too Shy", a UK No. 1 hit in February 1983, as well as two other UK Top 20 hits: "Ooh to Be Ah" and "Hang on Now". It is the band's only album with Limahl as the lead vocalist.

<i>Red Carpet Massacre</i> 2007 studio album by Duran Duran

Red Carpet Massacre is the twelfth studio album by English rock band Duran Duran, released on 13 November 2007 by Epic Records. Most of the music on the final incarnation of the album was completed in late 2006 following the departure of band member Andy Taylor with new guitarist Dominic Brown replacing him, when record producer Timbaland began working with the band. "Falling Down" was the only single released from the album.

<i>...Earth to the Dandy Warhols...</i> 2008 studio album by The Dandy Warhols

...Earth to the Dandy Warhols... is the sixth studio album by American rock band The Dandy Warhols. It was recorded in 2008 and released on May 19, 2008, the first album released on their self-founded Beat the World Records label after leaving Capitol Records in 2007.

<i>The Dandy Warhols Are Sound</i> 2009 studio album by The Dandy Warhols

The Dandy Warhols Are Sound is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock band The Dandy Warhols. It is the original mix of the band's 2003 album Welcome to the Monkey House, by Grammy Award-winning soul music mixing engineer Russell Elevado. It was released on July 14, 2009, through the band's own label Beat the World Records.

<i>All You Need Is Now</i> 2010 studio album by Duran Duran

All You Need Is Now is the thirteenth studio album by English rock band Duran Duran. Produced by Mark Ronson, a truncated version of the album was released digitally on 21 December 2010. A physical package was released on 21 March 2011 in Europe on the Tape Modern label, and on 22 March 2011 in the United States and Canada on S-Curve Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Were the Last High</span> 2003 single by The Dandy Warhols

"You Were the Last High" is a song by American alternative rock band The Dandy Warhols. It was released in July 2003 as the second single from their fourth studio album Welcome to the Monkey House.

<i>This Machine</i> (album) 2012 studio album by The Dandy Warhols

This Machine is the eighth studio album by American rock band The Dandy Warhols. It was released on April 24, 2012, by record label The End. The album features a more stripped-down, laid-back style than much of the band's previous work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beat the World Records</span>

Beat the World Records is a record label founded by The Dandy Warhols in Portland, Oregon, in 2008.

<i>Paper Gods</i> 2015 studio album by Duran Duran

Paper Gods is the fourteenth studio album by English rock band Duran Duran, released on 11 September 2015 by Warner Bros. Records. The album was produced by Mr Hudson and Joshua Blair, who had worked with the band on All You Need Is Now (2010) and A Diamond in the Mind: Live 2011 (2012); Nile Rodgers, who had previously first worked on the band's "The Reflex", his remixed version reaching number one, "The Wild Boys" single and Notorious album; and Mark Ronson, who produced All You Need Is Now. The first single, "Pressure Off", features vocals from American singer Janelle Monáe. The album was supported by the Paper Gods on Tour.

<i>Distortland</i> 2016 studio album by The Dandy Warhols

Distortland is the ninth studio album by American alternative rock band The Dandy Warhols, released on April 8, 2016 by record label Dine Alone.

<i>Future Past</i> (Duran Duran album) 2021 studio album by Duran Duran

Future Past is the fifteenth studio album by English rock band Duran Duran, released on 22 October 2021. It is the band's first album to be released through BMG, and their first since 2015's Paper Gods six years prior.

<i>Danse Macabre</i> (Duran Duran album) 2023 studio album by Duran Duran

Danse Macabre is the sixteenth studio album by English rock band Duran Duran. It was released on 27 October 2023 through BMG and Tape Modern. A Halloween-themed album, the record includes three new tracks, covers and reimagined versions of older Duran Duran material. Former guitarists Andy Taylor and Warren Cuccurullo appear, making their first appearances on a Duran Duran LP since 2004's Astronaut and 2000's Pop Trash, respectively. Nile Rodgers and Victoria De Angelis of Måneskin also feature as guest artists.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Phares, Heather. "Welcome to the Monkey House - The Dandy Warhols : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  2. ↑ Zaleski, Annie (June 11, 2013). "Screw The Strokes: How The Dandy Warhols kick-started the '00s rock 'n' roll revival". The A.V. Club .
  3. 1 2 Peisner, David (April 16, 2003). "Dandys Monkey with Duran". Rolling Stone .
  4. ↑ Walker, CS. "Courtney Love?". Bang . Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  5. ↑ Butler, Jim. "Who's the Dandy Now?". XRay Magazine . Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  6. ↑ Lindsay, Cam (January 25, 2019). "The Dandy Warhols' Courtney Taylor-Taylor Passionately Ranks the Band's LPs". Vice . Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Welcome to the Monkey House « The Dandy Warhols | The Official Site". dandywarhols.com. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  8. 1 2 Hoffman, K Ross. "The Dandy Warhols Are Sound - The Dandy Warhols : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  9. ↑ Smyers, Daryl (September 3, 2009). "Peter Holmstrom and The Rest of the Dandy Warhols are Men of Their Words". Dallas Observer . Retrieved July 29, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Dandy Guest Star!". nme.com . October 13, 2003. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Critic Reviews for Welcome to the Monkey House". Metacritic . Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  12. ↑ Phipps, Keith (September 8, 2003). "The Dandy Warhols: Welcome to the Monkey House". avclub.com . Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  13. 1 2 Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: The Dandy Warhols". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  14. ↑ Adam, Sean (May 12, 2003). "Welcome to the Monkey House". Drowned in Sound . Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  15. ↑ Willman, Chris. "Welcome to the Monkey House Review". ew.com (August 22, 2003). Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  16. ↑ Newman, Adam. "The Dandy Warhols: Welcome to the Monkey House". Kludge . Archived from the original on December 5, 2003. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
  17. 1 2 Bryant, Andrew (July 16, 2003). "The Dandy Warhols: Welcome to the Monkey House". Pitchfork . Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  18. ↑ Gairola, Rahul (October 3, 2003). "The Dandy Warhols: Welcome to the Monkey House". PopMatters . Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  19. ↑ Fearn, Rob. "[Welcome to the Monkey House review]". Q .
  20. ↑ "The Dandy Warhols - Welcome to the Monkey House - Review". uncut.co.uk . Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  21. ↑ Virtue, Graeme (May 11, 2003). "[Welcome to the Monkey House review]". Sunday Herald .
  22. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – The Dandy Warhols – Welcome to the Monkey House". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  23. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 74.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – The Dandy Warhols – Welcome to the Monkey House" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Ultratop.be – The Dandy Warhols – Welcome to the Monkey House" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Lescharts.com – The Dandy Warhols – Welcome to the Monkey House". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Dandy Warhols – Welcome to the Monkey House" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography The Dandy Warhols". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – The Dandy Warhols – Welcome to the Monkey House". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Charts.nz – The Dandy Warhols – Welcome to the Monkey House". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – The Dandy Warhols – Welcome to the Monkey House". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – The Dandy Warhols – Welcome to the Monkey House". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  33. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  34. ↑ "The Dandy Warhols Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2020.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.