Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Smith Westerns' third album, Soft Will, takes another step away from the scruffy lo-fi approach of their debut, and puts a layer of gloss on the already slick sound they captured on Dye It Blonde. The thing to keep in mind when you're a band gradually smoothing out and expanding your sound is to make sure you keep whatever it was about your band that made it worthwhile in the first place, and to do something to keep it interesting. The band does both here. The wistfully sincere songwriting is as strong as ever, and while they may have cast off their youthful energy in favor of a more melancholy mood, the subtle hooks are just as sharp and the songs hit home. Leaving their pocket-sized Mott the Hoople crunch behind for the most part, the band aims for something more restrained and arranged, filling out the songs with sweeping synthesizer strings and layers of acoustic guitars. The synths are a nice addition that gives the songs some depth and sonic richness. Indeed much more care has been given overall to the arrangements and the mood they create, and the songs definitely benefit from the effort. There's nothing that stands out as a single, but almost every song has a melody that grabs you, or at least a sound that draws you in. The more uptempo tracks like "Fool Proof" and "Idol" hook you first, but the slower, more contemplative ones sink in the deepest. Cullen Omori's voice may not be the most powerful around but he can deliver enough pathos to at least bend a heart, and Smith Westerns' assured delivery allows them to slow it down without getting boring. The best of the bunch is the album-ending "Varsity," which comes off like a well-crafted, very Midwestern indie rock take on M83. Smith Westerns may have gradually sloughed off all their fans who liked the swaggering lo-fidelity style they began with, but with Soft Will, they should gain back some people who like thoughtful, melodically rich indie rock that isn't sleepy or clichéd or boring. This album is none of those things and, thanks to their actual growth as artists, it may be their best yet.
© Tim Sendra /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From €13,50/month
Smith Westerns, MainArtist - Max Kakacek, Composer - Cullen Omori, Composer
2013 Mom + Pop 2013 Mom + Pop
Smith Westerns, MainArtist - Max Kakacek, Composer - Cullen Omori, Composer
2013 Mom + Pop 2013 Mom + Pop
Smith Westerns, MainArtist - Max Kakacek, Composer - Cullen Omori, Composer
2013 Mom + Pop 2013 Mom + Pop
Smith Westerns, MainArtist - Max Kakacek, Composer - Cullen Omori, Composer
2013 Mom + Pop 2013 Mom + Pop
Smith Westerns, MainArtist - Max Kakacek, Composer - Cullen Omori, Composer
2013 Mom + Pop 2013 Mom + Pop
Smith Westerns, MainArtist - Max Kakacek, Composer - Cullen Omori, Composer
2013 Mom + Pop 2013 Mom + Pop
Smith Westerns, MainArtist - Max Kakacek, Composer - Cullen Omori, Composer
2013 Mom + Pop 2013 Mom + Pop
Smith Westerns, MainArtist - Max Kakacek, Composer - Cullen Omori, Composer
2013 Mom + Pop 2013 Mom + Pop
Smith Westerns, MainArtist - Max Kakacek, Composer - Cullen Omori, Composer
2013 Mom + Pop 2013 Mom + Pop
Smith Westerns, MainArtist - Max Kakacek, Composer - Cullen Omori, Composer
2013 Mom + Pop 2013 Mom + Pop
Album review
Smith Westerns' third album, Soft Will, takes another step away from the scruffy lo-fi approach of their debut, and puts a layer of gloss on the already slick sound they captured on Dye It Blonde. The thing to keep in mind when you're a band gradually smoothing out and expanding your sound is to make sure you keep whatever it was about your band that made it worthwhile in the first place, and to do something to keep it interesting. The band does both here. The wistfully sincere songwriting is as strong as ever, and while they may have cast off their youthful energy in favor of a more melancholy mood, the subtle hooks are just as sharp and the songs hit home. Leaving their pocket-sized Mott the Hoople crunch behind for the most part, the band aims for something more restrained and arranged, filling out the songs with sweeping synthesizer strings and layers of acoustic guitars. The synths are a nice addition that gives the songs some depth and sonic richness. Indeed much more care has been given overall to the arrangements and the mood they create, and the songs definitely benefit from the effort. There's nothing that stands out as a single, but almost every song has a melody that grabs you, or at least a sound that draws you in. The more uptempo tracks like "Fool Proof" and "Idol" hook you first, but the slower, more contemplative ones sink in the deepest. Cullen Omori's voice may not be the most powerful around but he can deliver enough pathos to at least bend a heart, and Smith Westerns' assured delivery allows them to slow it down without getting boring. The best of the bunch is the album-ending "Varsity," which comes off like a well-crafted, very Midwestern indie rock take on M83. Smith Westerns may have gradually sloughed off all their fans who liked the swaggering lo-fidelity style they began with, but with Soft Will, they should gain back some people who like thoughtful, melodically rich indie rock that isn't sleepy or clichéd or boring. This album is none of those things and, thanks to their actual growth as artists, it may be their best yet.
© Tim Sendra /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:39:08
- Main artists: Smith Westerns
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: What's Your Rupture
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
2013 Mom + Pop 2013 Mom + Pop
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.