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  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #44,898 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Ghouls

2. Let's See It

3. After Hours

4. Lethal Enforcer

5. Impatience

6. Tonight

7. Spoken For

8. Altered Beast

9. Chick Lit

10. Dinosaurs

11. That's What Counts

12. [CD-Rom Track]

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.

See all Editorial Reviews

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)

Amazon Verified Purchase

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 they knew what direction they needed to go in, and they went., January 13, 2010

By	Ndot86 "ndot86" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

With Love and Squalor is one of the few albums that I've actually bought in recent years, with no regret whatsoever. Didn't take many listens for that album to grow on me; WAS had a sound that, although a bit repetitive, worked very well. But I'm the type of person that hesitates to listen to later efforts by bands that I really like, so I didn't immediately buy Brain Thrust Mastery when I heard of its release. It might've taken me a couple of months even, I don't remember, but the fact of the matter is, I did end up buying WAS's third album eventually. I can honestly say that this was a more worthwhile purchase for me than WL&S. Why? Because I think WAS showed great signs of maturity on this album. Many bands experiment with different styles and sounds with their later releases, often leaving most of their fans disappointed (I can't tell you how many times I've been disappointed), but this is an example of the opposite (IMO, at least).

I personally know a few people who can agree that although WL&S was a great effort by WAS, many of the songs sound too similar. Despite that, it's still an awesome album, but that all-too-familiar sound wouldn't fly in another release. They may not actually be scientists, but Keith, Chris and Scott were smart enough to know that, so they left their static post-punk formula behind to explore other indie sounds, and they did it very successfully, IMO.

Bottom line, if you loved WL&S, and wish to hear a more mature, experimental WAS, you MUST get Brain Thrust Mastery. 4.5/5

Most Recommended Songs:
Impatience
Lethal Enforcer
After Hours
Tonight
Chick Lit
Dinosaurs
Ghouls

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!