Smith Westerns: "Weekend"

Chicago’s Smith Westerns have a familiar origin story: high school kids start a band, release a lo-fi, grungy garage-pop album, gradually develop a following, graduate from high school, upgrade to cleaner production, and release something less rough around the edges—the breakthrough or break-up album. Despite the ominous undertones of phrases like “cleaner production,” the band’s new single “Weekend,” with its na-nas, woo-hoos, and tightly wound glam guitar, seems to be a logical step sonically: Smith Westerns’ retro, faux-British appeal is better bright, clear, and unmasked by noise. These aren’t gritty punks we’re talking about, after all, they’re recent prep-school grads. “Weekend” is breezy and slight, but it doesn’t try to be anything more. It’s just a damn catchy song, sans attitude.

The title may tip you off, but “Weekend” is not ambitious in its subject matter. There is apparently some talk of a girl, perhaps one who cries tears and probably took something the wrong way at some point and is being a bit of a pill. Lead singer Cullen Omori doesn’t seem too concerned, however, and shrugs off each verse with a “Na na na na na / With a girl like you.” One can assume these kids, inspired as they are by the British Invasion, are familiar with the likewise-named Troggs tune this recalls. The reference makes for a clever turnaround: instead of proclaiming his everlasting love for a girl (“I want to spend my life / With a girl like you”), Omori suggests longing masked by indifference, here and on the song’s chorus. He sings, “Weekends are never fun / Unless you’re around here, too.”

“Weekend” has the potential to be just another ’60s-inspired, chillwave-y throwaway, but its saving grace is guitarist Mark Kakacek’s “Starman”-style lead, snaking away from the chorus and searing itself into memory. It’s a song built well, pop music pure and pop music simple. Perhaps it won’t stay with me longer than a few nights, but it’s good company for now.