Smith Westerns

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Smith Westerns

| image = Smith Westerns 2011.jpg

| landscape = yes

| caption = Smith Westerns performing at Belly Up Aspen in 2011.

| background = group_or_band

| origin = Chicago, Illinois, United States

| genre = {{hlist|Indie rock|glam rock|garage rock}}

| years_active = 2007–2014

| associated_acts = Whitney, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Foxygen

| label = {{hlist|Mom + Pop Music|Fat Possum|Weird World|HoZac Records|Transparent|Bachelor}}

| website = {{URL|http://www.smithwesternsmusic.com}}

| past_members = Cullen Omori
Cameron Omori
Max Kakacek
Julien Ehrlich
Hal James

}}

Smith Westerns were an American indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois, United States, composed of brothers Cullen and Cameron Omori, Max Kakacek, Julien Ehrlich and Hal James.{{cite web|last=Mehr |first=Bob |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/big-kids/Content?oid=1187816 |title=Big Kids | Music Column |date=18 June 2009 |publisher=Chicago Reader |access-date=2009-10-20}} Their musical influences included David Bowie, T. Rex{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/36019-rising-the-smith-westerns/ |title=Rising: Smith Westerns |date=4 August 2009 |publisher=Pitchfork Media|access-date=2009-10-20}} and Oasis.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/40315-smith-westerns-talk-britpop-influenced-new-lp/ |title=Smith Westerns Talk Their New Brit Pop Influenced LP |date=8 October 2010 |publisher=Pitchfork Media| access-date=2010-10-08}}

History

=''Smith Westerns'' (2009)=

Their self-titled debut album was released on HoZac Records on June 5, 2009.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=144202417&blogId=493135982 |title=Smith Westerns LP Out Now on HoZac - MySpace-blog | van The Smith Westerns |website=Blogs.myspace.com |date=2009-10-16 |access-date=2009-10-20 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708125013/http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=144202417&blogId=493135982# |archive-date=2012-07-08 |url-status=dead }} Most of the album was recorded throughout the winter and early spring in Max Kakacek's basement.

=''Dye It Blonde'' (2011)=

They released a new single, "Weekend", on November 4, 2010, from their album Dye It Blonde, which was released on January 18, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/12032-weekend/ |title=Pitchfork: The Playlist: Smith Westerns - "Weekend" |publisher=Pitchfork Media|access-date=2010-11-08}}

=''Soft Will'' (2013)=

The band signed to Mom + Pop Music on March 5, 2013,{{Cite web |url=http://www.momandpopmusic.com/2013/03/smith-westerns-sign-to-mom-and-pop/# |title=Smith Westerns Sign to Mom+Pop, Announce New Album, Share First Single | Mom + Pop Music | Independent Record Label |access-date=2013-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530183531/http://www.momandpopmusic.com/2013/03/smith-westerns-sign-to-mom-and-pop/# |archive-date=2013-05-30 |url-status=dead }} and released Soft Will on June 25, 2013, following up from their 2011 LP, Dye It Blonde. The first single off the album, "Varsity," was released March 6, 2013.{{cite news|last=Minsker|first=Evan|title=Smith Westerns Announce New Album Soft Will, Share New Track "Varsity"|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/49781-smith-westerns-announce-new-album-soft-will-share-new-track-varsity/|access-date=6 March 2013|newspaper=Pitchfork Media|date=6 March 2013}} The album has received mostly positive reviews upon release.{{Citation needed|date=July 2013}}

=Later work and breakup=

On December 13, 2014, the band announced that they would go on an indefinite hiatus.{{cite web|last1=Beauchemin|first1=Molly|title=Smith Westerns Announce Indefinite Hiatus|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/57836-smith-westerns-announce-indefinite-hiatus/|website=Pitchfork.com|date=13 December 2014 |publisher=Pitchfork Media|access-date=13 December 2014}} They later confirmed that they were permanently breaking up.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/57902-smith-westerns-confirm-breakup/|title=Smith Westerns Confirm Breakup - Pitchfork|website=Pitchfork.com|date=19 December 2014 |access-date=18 August 2018}}

Since the breakup, Cullen Omori began a solo career, signing to Sub Pop Records,{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/61771-smith-westerns-cullen-omori-details-debut-solo-album-new-misery-shares-cinnamon-video/|title=Smith Westerns' Cullen Omori Details Debut Solo Album New Misery, Shares "Cinnamon" Video - Pitchfork|website=Pitchfork.com|date=7 January 2016 |access-date=18 August 2018}} while Max Kakacek, Julien Ehrlich, and touring keyboardist Ziyad Asrar formed the band Whitney.{{cite web|url=http://diymag.com/2015/06/02/members-of-smith-westerns-touching-voids-form-whitney-share-no-matter-where-you-go|title=Members of Smith Westerns, Touching Voids form Whitney, share 'No Matter Where You Go'|website=Diy.mag|access-date=18 August 2018}}

Discography

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"\| Title ! rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"\| Details ! colspan="5"\| Peak chart positions
style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="35"\| US {{cite magazine\|url={{BillboardURLbyName\|artist=smith westerns\|chart=all}}\|title=Smith Westerns Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=January 28, 2011}} ! width="35"\| US Indie {{cite magazine\|url={{BillboardURLbyName\|artist=smith westerns\|chart=Independent Albums}}\|title=Smith Westerns Album & Song Chart History - Independent Albums\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=January 28, 2011}} ! width="35"\| US Alt {{cite magazine\|url={{BillboardURLbyName\|artist=smith westerns\|chart=Alternative Albums}}\|title=Smith Westerns Album & Song Chart History - Alternative Albums\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=January 28, 2011}} ! width="35"\| US Rock {{cite magazine\|url={{BillboardURLbyName\|artist=smith westerns\|chart=Rock Albums}}\|title=Smith Westerns Album & Song Chart History - Rock Albums\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=January 28, 2011}} ! width="35"\| US Heat {{cite magazine\|url={{BillboardURLbyName\|artist=smith westerns\|chart=Heatseekers Albums}}\|title=Smith Westerns Album & Song Chart History - Heatseekers Albums\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=January 28, 2011}}
scope="row"\| Smith Westerns \| Release date: June 5, 2009 Label: HoZac Records Formats: CD, music download, vinyl \| — \| — \| — \| — \| —
scope="row"\| Dye It Blonde \| Release date: January 18, 2011 Label: Fat Possum Records Formats: CD, music download, vinyl \| 114 \| 18 \| 20 \| 29 \| 1
scope="row"\| Soft Will \| Release date: June 25, 2013 Label: Mom + Pop Music Formats: CD, music download, vinyl \| 194 \| — \| — \| — \| —
colspan="10" style="font-size:8pt"\| "—" denotes releases that did not chart

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Title

! rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Details

! colspan="5"| Peak chart positions

style="font-size:smaller;"

! width="35"| US
{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=smith westerns|chart=all}}|title=Smith Westerns Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 28, 2011}}

! width="35"| US Indie
{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=smith westerns|chart=Independent Albums}}|title=Smith Westerns Album & Song Chart History - Independent Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 28, 2011}}

! width="35"| US
Alt
{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=smith westerns|chart=Alternative Albums}}|title=Smith Westerns Album & Song Chart History - Alternative Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 28, 2011}}

! width="35"| US Rock
{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=smith westerns|chart=Rock Albums}}|title=Smith Westerns Album & Song Chart History - Rock Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 28, 2011}}

! width="35"| US Heat
{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=smith westerns|chart=Heatseekers Albums}}|title=Smith Westerns Album & Song Chart History - Heatseekers Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 28, 2011}}

scope="row"| Smith Westerns

Release date: June 5, 2009
Label: HoZac Records
Formats: CD, music download, vinyl

| —

scope="row"| Dye It Blonde

Release date: January 18, 2011
Label: Fat Possum Records
Formats: CD, music download, vinyl

| 114

| 18

| 20

| 29

| 1

scope="row"| Soft Will

Release date: June 25, 2013
Label: Mom + Pop Music
Formats: CD, music download, vinyl

| 194

| —

colspan="10" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart

=Singles=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
Year ! style="width:10em;"\| Single ! Album
2010 ! scope="row"\| "Weekend" \| align="left"\| Dye It Blonde
2013 ! scope="row"\| "Varsity" \| align="left"\| Soft Will

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

Year

! style="width:10em;"| Single

! Album

2010

! scope="row"| "Weekend"

| align="left"| Dye It Blonde

2013

! scope="row"| "Varsity"

| align="left"| Soft Will