The Dandy Warhols [ tickets ] have never lacked for confidence or a sense of humor. Listeners get a dose of both during the intentionally over-the-top introduction that kicks off the band's fifth album, "Odditorium or Warlords of Mars."

With tongue parked firmly in check, A&E host Bill Kurtis explains how the Warhols' dandy sound--such a pivotal influence in the careers of Gene Vincent, Elvis Presley and B.B. King--was basically responsible for creating rock 'n' roll. Kurtis finishes up the overly dramatic, entirely fictional, intro by telling listeners that they are "listening to a piece of history."

Whoa.

A band has to have more than just confidence and a sense of humor to open with an introduction like that--it also has to have some major talent. Fortunately, the Warhols have talent to spare

"Odditorium," which is named after the group's infamous Portland, OR, studio, is one of the best major-label, alt-rock records of the year, right up there with the White Stripes' "Get Behind Me Satan" and Beck's "Guero."

More importantly, "Odditorium" is far superior to the band's last outing, 2003's synth-pop-driven "Welcome to the Monkey House." To be fair, however, there's no single three-minute span on the new record that sounds as instantly memorable as the "Monkey House" standout "We Used to be Friends." But "Odditorium" is a much deeper and more cohesive record--one that is truly representative of the band's diversely appealing musical palette.

Following the grandiose introduction, the album kicks into gear with a classic bit of druggy psychedelia called "Love is the New Feel Awful," a track that does a good job in conveying the feel of the band's fuzzy, swirling live show.

From there, the group successfully careens through the banjo-driven hoedown "The New Country," the feedback-drenched "Down Like Disco" and The Velvet Underground-inspired "Smoke It" toward the defiantly experimental closing track, "A Loan Tonight."

The Dandy Warhols didn't create rock 'n' roll. But, judging by "Odditorium," the band has certainly mastered the genre.