Customer Reviews

With Love and Squalor [Vinyl]

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

~www.absolutepunk.net~

At this point, my penchant for dancing is beginning to wear thin.

In 2005 the mainstream saw a surprising emergence of indie bands who, like a snake charmer with his flute, got the toes of American tapping with their modern dance-rock grooves. Ever since, the bass heavy sway, the semi-electronic trill, and the pick-a-minute hook with which The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, and Hot Hot Heat invaded our minds have become a major rock and roll standard. It's been done, done, and done again and mostly to great effect.

But as we've seen most recently with the "emo" trend, the "ska" trend, and the "pop-punk" trend: after a while if you don't give a genre a little creative CPR, it's going to lose its flavor, and fast. Perhaps I stand alone here, but I feel the wave of dance-rock has not received enough medical attention. While new artists like Men, Women, and Children still send my pulse soaring, We Are Scientists haven't found that kindling just yet.

It's hard to point to a flaw because, as with so many records, it's not what you hear, it's what you don't. The vocals are spot on, and instrumentally the foundation is rock hard. What With Love and Squalor fails to do though, is build upon this foundation. In almost every track I expected a skyscraper, and yet the elevator stopped a couple stories short. A major shortcoming in this whole dance-rock deal is the low malleability of the sound; rarely can a band effectively stretch it to envelop the girth of a full length record.

We Are Scientists have conjured 12 really good songs, championed by the more adventurous "Can't Lose" and rarely flinching from a straight forward but successful formula. It's a good time had by all, but despite what there is to enjoy, With Love and Squalor does not manage to achieve any of the depth or importance found in the subtly heartbreaking J.D. Salinger short from which the record draws its name.

"It doesn't have to be terribly prolific! Just so that it isn't childish and silly." Esmé reflected. "I prefer stories about squalor."

~absolutepunk.net~

This is your typical L.A. or Brooklyn sounding hipster band. There have even been comparisons to the Killers with the lead singer singing in a somewhat British accent. Once you get past those distractions (meaning, I'm not a fan of the Killers or bands like them) this is a pretty good album. Very catchy album with hyper-angular guitar licks a-la Bloc Party. Drumming is decent and there are definitely some good sing along parts and catchy hooks. Grant it, some of the lyrics are cheesy and a little bit immature but the album pulls you through with its catchy at the moment 'sound'. Worth a listen.

Take the best aspects of The Killers, Bloc Party, and Franz Ferdinand, mix them together, and you get this, the debut CD from We Are Scientists. As we've all come to expect from this genre, the musicianship is excellent; the guitar works blends seamlessly with the vocals, drums, etc. Everything fits together wonderfully. Even better though, these guys definitely know how to build excitement. The first track gets you going, two keeps the party going, three has a good atmosphere, and four mellows out a bit while segueing into the building crescendo of rhythm that starts the fast-paced, jumpy fifth track, "Callbacks," far and away the best song on the disc. By then, you're hooked. Every track here is worth listening to over and over again.

Sidenote: Wonder why this album got all the way to #3 on the college radio charts? Check out the lyrics. This CD is the aural representation of the stereotypical college weekend, best represented by the last lines of the second cut: "The night is young, I'm blacking out, but it's been fun."

5 of 5 stars for the new College Rock.

This is a debut from a relatively new band on the British Indie/Rock, or whatever they call it, scene - I never really keep up with the name tags given to the various modern genre's entering into the music scene. But what I can tell you is that this is very good indeed. I am lucky enough as a british citizen (living in Britain) to have been able to get access to this cd without the financial hit that is inevitable from import. Yet I certainly would advise any of our brethren the otherside of the atlantic that it's very much worth the price and wait. We Are Scientists throughout give a consistently strong outpouring of musical talent. However on a personal note i feel the front end of the album is slightly stronger than the back end. They however keep the album fresh throughout with a great varying of pace and rhythm, which I feel shows a real talent for not only creating a good tune but also constructing a real top-notch album. Any of you out there who is enjoying the revitalisation of the 'indie/rock with a little 80's dance thrown in for good measure' scene, within Britain at the moment will without question love this band and I urge those of you who haven't already to buy and place it proudly in your collection and no doubt such is modern society onto your iPod.

Up until I discovered W.A.S., I was determined that there were absolutely no good American bands out there in the world! Then I popped this in, and the rest is history as they say.

When I first heard this band, I couldn't place them. It seems nowadays, every indie band is compared to Franz Ferdinand. But that's not it. It's as if The Killers and Maximo Park had a love child at an Interpol concert. Very danceable, with melodic vocals and pretty intense instrumentals. A little bit different, and a little bit of everything you've heard. Definitely worth a listen.

I also must mention that W.A.S. has undeniably the best band web site around. It's absolutely hysterical. Check it out.

In terms of sheer coolness, the members of We Are Scientists are perfect tens. They are witty, intelligent and easily run the most amusing and clever website of any band I have ever seen [...]. They are personable and enthusiastic and use these qualities to execute fabulous preformances to which the maniacal dancing never stops.

Earlier this week, I went to see WAS play with The Arctic Monkeys, a band which I thought I preferred. WAS was amazing (better than the first time I saw them) and made their CD and the crowd come alive; up next, the headliners, The Arctic Monkeys, and the most boring and unexceptional show I heave ever seen or heard.
I could not stop yawning.

Now, to the album specifically. This is not a revolutionary album but neither is it particularly derivative. What With Love and Squalor is, is solidly entertaining, solidly listenable, and solidly energizing. In an age where all most hear are recordings, it's hard to remember that personality and charisma are essential components of music. Being able to brilliantly play live is exponetially more difficult than recording a song with endless cuts. I really look forward to WAS's next effort and will go to any of their shows because I know they produce a good album AND cut it live. I will never, however, go to The Arctic Monkeys again (or, for that matter, buy their next CD); I would rather go to sleep than watch four Abercrombie looking dudes stiffly strum their guitars while looking blankly out into their sold out audience.

Good Luck We Are Scientists! You all can rock!

Well, finally I agree with the Amazon review...and for all of you that don't know who the band Terrorvision are, that is a pretty excellent comparison. I would say WAS are like Terrorvision meets Buzzcocks, ala 1/4 vocal croonings of The Smiths (first track especially).

I did not think I would like this album as much as I do. The first listen was a mixture of surprises and let-downs. For example, track 3 Inaction is probably my favorite track of the year thus far, track 4 Can't Lose brings that sophmore I-Can't-Stand-Myself-Teenager element angst that I simply cannot relate to. It's a minor compaint, but I tend to not give that track a chance most of the times I play the album. Overall though, it is very catchy.

On a side note...Keith Murray...Best Mustache since Erlend Oye.

All the songs are unique and most are good in their own way, but there is one song that truly excels and has the potential to be a large hit. That song is "Lousy Reputation". It begins quite innocuously with repetitive bass line and calm vocals, transcends into a drum-bashing pre-chorus, and finally dissolves into aural orgasm with the chorus. Repeat. Unfortunately, I see no signs from it actually becoming a hit despite its utter awesomeness. But you should still buy this album if you like Hot Hot Heat, The Killers, or possibly the Bravery. Quite a good buy.

In reply to an earlier review: How can We Are Scientists be "the new Arctic Monkeys," when their album was released first?
I love both albums. They both rock like crazy, with great melodies and interesting lyrics. I just wonder why WAS haven't been invited to play on SNL?

I bought this CD because I already liked 3 songs on it. I heard about them through [...]. I am please with my purchase. The rest of the album is quite good. They certainly don't stray too much from their style and sound, so if you like one of their songs you'll probably like them all.