We Are Scientists Album Review

tom · 04-15-2006, 06:27 PM

well paul posted one recent one so here goes...

They played to a virtually unknowing Carling tent at Reading Festival last year yet in the last few months We Are Scientists are beginning to grow a little in stature; having bought the album at the same time as the new Arctic Monkeys piece, it should be of some considerable surprise that With Love and Squalor is the piece that I?ve listened to far more. Possibly because W.A.S are a new band to me whereas pretty much the entirety of the Arctic Monkeys album has been in my repertoire for several months now, and this I guess adds a certain edge to what I have found to be a very good album. It?s got the dancey feeling of The Bravery and Bloc Party, but the riffs of Franz et al, as well as some darn good vocals. They?re also apparently the dogs testiculars live, and are currently hitting the scene on the NME tour.

They don?t exactly look like the typical indie band; the lead vocalist perhaps, but the blatantly geeky bassist and drummer look a tad out. Looks however, aren?t everything and that certainly is the case with the Scientists. Content is the key here, and the album is pretty special. They apparently embrace their nerd-dom, and indeed a plethora of fashion mags have dressed them up in nerd attire - which they find apparently bizarre as they already own similar garments. Indeed, their surge has added weight to the claims that indie-geek rock is firmly among us (before the recent wave, Weezer were the only notable lot).

The Great Escape you?ve probably already heard with its catchy-as riff, bizarre video and class lyrics. It?s dancefloor indie at it?s finest, and it?s mix of varying styles is nothing short of genre bending. The thing is, whilst I thought Great Escape was going to be just a one off song on a poor album (as this happens to me far too often), so to find that the album is packed with a number of sublime punky/poppy/funky tracks with dancefloor elements was nothing short of a blessing. Theres the odd drossy number, but overall they can?t be faulted; theres at least 7 or 8 tracks that could potentially actually be hits, and thats never a bad thing.

The album kicks into gear with the chest beating first track, ?Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt? - no-ones quite sure what this songs supposed to be about or indeed its apparent sexual connotations (oh the controversy) involved in the lyrics ?My Body is Your Body, I won?t tell anybody??- however, no-one can doubt the, er, hilarity of the video for this song, in which the scientists are chased by a brilliantly done (i.e. not) bear. The Scene is Dead is slightly more along the lines of some form of negative ballad, yet is still at least as good, catchy and single-esque as anything else on the album. Indeed it wouldn?t at all surprise me to see this released at some point, as it really is one of their stronger efforts. Already released is the albums second single with its infectious baseline is the excellent Inaction, with its power chorus and fooking amazing verses. In the video they basically play a lullaby to a baby, and then decide to smash up the place half way through. It may not make sense but its brilliant nonetheless.

A great set of tracks gets even better with the simply masterful Can?t Lose, an anthem for any student out there - basically its all about being drunk, or something to that extent. In addition to the half decent lyrics the backing rhythm is sublime, and the guitars melodies shine through when employed. Cash Cow, whilst being a reference to an element of a subject that I take at A Level (a Cash Cow, if your interested, is a lagre selling product that doesn?t grow any more. A problem child is a product that is doing neither; so when I mock answered that a Cash Cow needs to be milked to feed a problem child, I was a bit shocked to see that I actually got a mark. Anec-nope?), has one of those emo type choruses that just don?t get along with me; apart from this though the track is actually little short of excellent, and is the typical W.A.S production; great drums, great bassline, great, catchy riffs and anthemic lyrics. What more can you ask for?

Don?t get me wrong though, there are some misfiring tracks on this album. Callbacks is fast and pointless but half the time isn?t a lot more than sheer and utter noise, whilst Lousy Reputation?s guitar riff just gets on the nerves after a while, and despite It?s A Hit being released as a single - I actually don?t see the fuss with it. It?s a song thats boring and the emo rush chorus doesn?t do an awful lot to inspire me. Neither are the Scientists lyrically the most potent; But these are the only average track/negative points on what is a simply excellent album.

This is an album which I got at the same time as the Arctic Monkeys, and have listened to at least 10 times more. Go figure.

9/10

04-15-2006, 07:01 PM

Excellent post, Tom.

imported_Paul · 04-15-2006, 07:04 PM

Brilliant review, Tom.

A agree with most, if not all of it. Top notch.

Scott · 04-15-2006, 10:43 PM

Well written indeed. I'm not crazy about We Are Scientists to be honest. Great live band and while they are an enjoyable listen, I don't realy connect with the tunes all that much.

04-17-2006, 11:31 PM

The bassist has a moustache to rival Stalin

Hey Scenesters · 04-30-2006, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom

It’s a song thats boring and the emo rush chorus doesn’t do an awful lot to inspire me.
9/10

Why have you to compare the song to emo, It has utterly nothing to do with it, so from now on anything with slight emotion is now the music genre "Emo" I dont't think so and the chorus is hardly emo

And I still don't understand
What this whole thing's about
And all the words that you said
Are somehow stuck in my mouth
I guess I might take it back
But I'm not sure what I did
All I know about that, is
I've been hit
I've been hit
I've been hit

most of its alright but apart from the songs you don't like I disagree with you, but we all have our own opinions so...........

05-01-2006, 02:31 PM

I'd also like to point out... how can it be a 9/10 if it has 'some misfiring tracks' on the album? If you don't like everything about it, then how can you award it a score that suggests that it can't be bettered by anything except perfection? Certainly your descriptions of a couple of tracks as "boring" and "pointless" confuse me a little bit.

tom · 05-01-2006, 02:46 PM

because in my eyes what IS there is worth 9/10. In hindsight I probably should have given it 8/10 as 9 might have been generous, but I stand by it.

It's still my favourite album to listen to mind you, and I've had it a good 4/5 months and it hasnt left the stereo. If that isn't worth 9/10 then what is?

05-01-2006, 04:10 PM

You're probably right, you probably just got swept up in it. Still seemed a bit excessive but it was well written.

04-15-2006, 06:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
tom Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 34	We Are Scientists Album Review well paul posted one recent one so here goes... They played to a virtually unknowing Carling tent at Reading Festival last year yet in the last few months We Are Scientists are beginning to grow a little in stature; having bought the album at the same time as the new Arctic Monkeys piece, it should be of some considerable surprise that With Love and Squalor is the piece that I?ve listened to far more. Possibly because W.A.S are a new band to me whereas pretty much the entirety of the Arctic Monkeys album has been in my repertoire for several months now, and this I guess adds a certain edge to what I have found to be a very good album. It?s got the dancey feeling of The Bravery and Bloc Party, but the riffs of Franz et al, as well as some darn good vocals. They?re also apparently the dogs testiculars live, and are currently hitting the scene on the NME tour. They don?t exactly look like the typical indie band; the lead vocalist perhaps, but the blatantly geeky bassist and drummer look a tad out. Looks however, aren?t everything and that certainly is the case with the Scientists. Content is the key here, and the album is pretty special. They apparently embrace their nerd-dom, and indeed a plethora of fashion mags have dressed them up in nerd attire - which they find apparently bizarre as they already own similar garments. Indeed, their surge has added weight to the claims that indie-geek rock is firmly among us (before the recent wave, Weezer were the only notable lot). The Great Escape you?ve probably already heard with its catchy-as riff, bizarre video and class lyrics. It?s dancefloor indie at it?s finest, and it?s mix of varying styles is nothing short of genre bending. The thing is, whilst I thought Great Escape was going to be just a one off song on a poor album (as this happens to me far too often), so to find that the album is packed with a number of sublime punky/poppy/funky tracks with dancefloor elements was nothing short of a blessing. Theres the odd drossy number, but overall they can?t be faulted; theres at least 7 or 8 tracks that could potentially actually be hits, and thats never a bad thing. The album kicks into gear with the chest beating first track, ?Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt? - no-ones quite sure what this songs supposed to be about or indeed its apparent sexual connotations (oh the controversy) involved in the lyrics ?My Body is Your Body, I won?t tell anybody??- however, no-one can doubt the, er, hilarity of the video for this song, in which the scientists are chased by a brilliantly done (i.e. not) bear. The Scene is Dead is slightly more along the lines of some form of negative ballad, yet is still at least as good, catchy and single-esque as anything else on the album. Indeed it wouldn?t at all surprise me to see this released at some point, as it really is one of their stronger efforts. Already released is the albums second single with its infectious baseline is the excellent Inaction, with its power chorus and fooking amazing verses. In the video they basically play a lullaby to a baby, and then decide to smash up the place half way through. It may not make sense but its brilliant nonetheless. A great set of tracks gets even better with the simply masterful Can?t Lose, an anthem for any student out there - basically its all about being drunk, or something to that extent. In addition to the half decent lyrics the backing rhythm is sublime, and the guitars melodies shine through when employed. Cash Cow, whilst being a reference to an element of a subject that I take at A Level (a Cash Cow, if your interested, is a lagre selling product that doesn?t grow any more. A problem child is a product that is doing neither; so when I mock answered that a Cash Cow needs to be milked to feed a problem child, I was a bit shocked to see that I actually got a mark. Anec-nope?), has one of those emo type choruses that just don?t get along with me; apart from this though the track is actually little short of excellent, and is the typical W.A.S production; great drums, great bassline, great, catchy riffs and anthemic lyrics. What more can you ask for? Don?t get me wrong though, there are some misfiring tracks on this album. Callbacks is fast and pointless but half the time isn?t a lot more than sheer and utter noise, whilst Lousy Reputation?s guitar riff just gets on the nerves after a while, and despite It?s A Hit being released as a single - I actually don?t see the fuss with it. It?s a song thats boring and the emo rush chorus doesn?t do an awful lot to inspire me. Neither are the Scientists lyrically the most potent; But these are the only average track/negative points on what is a simply excellent album. This is an album which I got at the same time as the Arctic Monkeys, and have listened to at least 10 times more. Go figure. 9/10 __________________ last gig: xfm big night out (thurs april 13th) - Towers of London, The Feeling, WE ARE SCIENTISTS next gig: as it stands: reading festival. Franz, Muse, Pearl Jam et al

04-15-2006, 07:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
imported_Paul Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 181	Brilliant review, Tom. A agree with most, if not all of it. Top notch. __________________ Paul MacDonald \|\| Site Founder & Co-Admin

05-01-2006, 02:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
tom Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 34	because in my eyes what IS there is worth 9/10. In hindsight I probably should have given it 8/10 as 9 might have been generous, but I stand by it. It's still my favourite album to listen to mind you, and I've had it a good 4/5 months and it hasnt left the stereo. If that isn't worth 9/10 then what is? __________________ last gig: xfm big night out (thurs april 13th) - Towers of London, The Feeling, WE ARE SCIENTISTS next gig: as it stands: reading festival. Franz, Muse, Pearl Jam et al

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04-15-2006, 07:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
Protege Posts: n/a	Excellent post, Tom.

04-15-2006, 10:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
Scott Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 55	Well written indeed. I'm not crazy about We Are Scientists to be honest. Great live band and while they are an enjoyable listen, I don't realy connect with the tunes all that much.

04-17-2006, 11:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
BBM Posts: n/a	The bassist has a moustache to rival Stalin

05-01-2006, 02:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Sam Posts: n/a	I'd also like to point out... how can it be a 9/10 if it has 'some misfiring tracks' on the album? If you don't like everything about it, then how can you award it a score that suggests that it can't be bettered by anything except perfection? Certainly your descriptions of a couple of tracks as "boring" and "pointless" confuse me a little bit.

05-01-2006, 04:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
Sam Posts: n/a	You're probably right, you probably just got swept up in it. Still seemed a bit excessive but it was well written.