Brain Thrust Mastery [ENHANCED]

We Are Scientists

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 13, 2008)
• Original Release Date: March 17, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B0016CP39O
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,522 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk
Brooklyn's We Are Scientists make it to their second album, Brain Thrust Mastery, a man down--drummer Michael Tapper departed the band in late 2007-–but with a new sound and a refreshed ambition. While 2005's With Love and Squalor marked them out as The Strokes' preppier cousins, lean guitar-indie with arch lyrics and driving tempos, Brain Thrust Mastery has more than rehash on its mind. It's an album that's both bigger and poppier than its predecessor--see gleaming first single "After Hours"--but also eager to experiment and branch out. The opening "Ghouls" echoes fellow Brooklynites TV on the Radio, a synthetic mesh of ticking rhythms, dubby bass and multi-tracked vocals, frontman Keith Murray singing: "We all recognise/That I'm the problem here", while "Lethal Enforcer" is a sly piece of '80s pop revivalism that somehow channels the smooth synths and echoing drums of Phil Collins without quite tipping over into kitsch. There's the occasional dropped ball here--"Spoken For", a serene, Tropicalia-tinted love ballad is interrupted around the mid-point by some unnecessary, pompous flying-V action--but on the whole, this is smart pop music that's clever but crucially, seldom clever-clever. --Louis Pattison

Product Description
Limited Edition bonus CD includes 7 live tracks from Union Chapel in London, November 23rd. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Different... but different is good in this case., June 21, 2008

By	Don Walton Jr. (Albuquerque, NM United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This new record isn't the We Are Scientists we were used to. The band has really grown and developed their sound. There are not many bratty pop songs compared to past releases, but rather many brooding, moody tracks... Much more complex as well.

At first the new sound was jarring, but over time it's really grown on me, and that's usually a sure sign that an album has legs. The melodic hooks are still there, the punchy drums remain, they're just steeped in a lot of additional sounds and riffs. Some tracks like 'Let's See It' still start with a strong catchy guitar run, but the vocals are more sing-songy.

There is more of a synthpop influence in the music as well. Something along the lines of a happier New Order with a bit of The Smiths in the melody. Tracks like 'Lethal Enforcer' are straight up new wave.

'Brain Thrust Mastery' is an excellent deviation from the mainstream, and a sign of even greater things to come.

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing! Buy Brain Thrust Mastery now!, June 16, 2009

By	Pinky Tuscadero (NV) - See all my reviews

Upon buying the latest We Are Scientists cd, I had only watched a few of their hilarious music videos on YouTube. I really liked the songs so I decided to buy the cd. I am glad I did as the whole cd is awesome. I love each and every song. It's is not a cd where you have to skip the occasional song. I have since then purchased With Love and Squalor as well. I highly recommend Brain Thrust Mastery! You will not be disappointed!

3.0 out of 5 stars Back to the Laboratory, March 3, 2009

By	Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

When you're a cult band with a critically acclaimed but low selling major label debut, the first words heard on your sophomore album probably should not be "We all recognize that I'm the problem here." But then again, new wave revivalists "We Are Scientists" aren't working on the usual formulas. It makes the nerdishly titled "Brain Thrust Mastery" both interesting and unlikely to succeed. Given the struggle similar bands (Franz Ferdinand and Arctic Monkeys) are having keeping their profiles established in the USA, "Brain Thrust Mastery's" suppression of WaS' With Love and Squalor debut spunkiness seems likely to doom the band to cultdom.

There are still hints that We Are Scientists - down to core duo of Keith Murray and Chris Cain - could still whip up a Hot Fuss worthy record. Both "Lethal Enforcer" and "After Hours" could give Brandon Flowers a run for his money, while ballad "Spoken For" suggest WaS may follow The Bravery into the experimental territory of The Sun And The Moon. "Enforcer" is such a perfect recreation of 80/90's pop that it could have been on the Pretty In Pink Soundtrack.

That's still not enough to make up for the lack of any real growth here. "Brain Thrust Mastery" is a good but inconsequential second effort that needs a killer follow-up, or We Are Scientists are going to find themselves like most nerds...wondering why Molly Ringwald always took the handsome bad boys while wanting to just stay friends with you.