Review Summary: An overall outstanding package of sarcastic lyrics and vocals covering some obscure choice in instrumentals that all compliment each other beautifully. Only to fall flat of a few dull moments.
"Four sweaty boys With Guitars tell me nothing about my life"
Los Campesinos! Are essentially youth. They are me as I am them. What makes up this cleverly constructed band isn't just the 7 members themselves but the stories of "love" and groaning sigh of every young adult and teenager who breathes.
The album opens without hesitation as the intro greets you with a polite handshake before smacking you across the face and jolting the volume of the juke-box (which magicaly appears from nowhere) up to max volume. 'Death To Los Campesinos!' takes no prisoners with its quircky ensemble of pucntuated guitar, honest vocals and giggling Glockenspiel.
Both 'Broken HeartBeats Sound Like BreakBeats' and 'Don't Tell Me To Do The Math(s)' Compliment each other in ways of humerous violin, clever/ almost genius lyrics and those moments of "Wow, that is amazing" packaged in accessible, youthful celebration.
Hold On Now, Younster... is so successful in telling sheer truth through its 'open-for discussion' style of vocals and lyrics.
Every word sung, screamed, yelled, spewed from both Gareth and Alek's mouths are honest, ironic, clever and relatable. "I hate the stench of coffee on your breath and I hate to feels its warmth against my neck"
What makes the music of Los Campesinos! so special comes from their unique structure and quircky collection of instruments. Violin, keyboard, electronics, glockenspiel all spin around your ears, doing their own constant solos' to impress you and so they should.
'You! Me! Dancing!' Is likely the most distinct in difference, being a song that most know or have heard of but you can push it aside. This 11 track wonder only falls flat of sum dull moments from an overall outstanding collection of pop music carefully molded for those with a yearning hope for some uplifting dancing.
By the end of Hold On Now, Youngster... if you haven't danced once or at least clap your hands, you do not know how to enjoy yourself, or at least: laugh at how true the sarcastic lyrics are.
