Provided are photochromic articles that include a substrate, a primer layer that includes a first photochromic compound, and a photochromic-dichroic layer over the primer layer that includes a photochromic-dichroic compound. The first photochromic compound and the photochromic-dichroic compound each are selected such that the photochromic-dichroic compound has an absorbance of less than or equal to 0.1 at the wavelength of peak absorbance of the underlying first photochromic compound. The present invention also relates to such photochromic articles that further include a topcoat layer over the photochromic-dichroic layer. The topcoat layer can include a second photochromic compound that has an absorbance of less than 0.1 at the wavelength of peak absorbance of the underlying photochromic-dichroic compound. The photochromic articles provide, for example, a combination of linear polarizing properties, and reduced percent transmittance when in a colored or darkened state, such as when exposed to actinic light.