Review Summary: We Are Scientists: HUGE sound, small band.
Before I get into this I would like to give you a little background of how I came upon this album. I was in a local record store and I just saw this album with three guys holding kittens and I was drawn to it for some reason. I checked the band name, We Are Scientists, and I knew that it had to be good...I just felt some unexplained urgency to buy this album. So I did, not knowing anything about the band, never having heard mention of them...this was about a year ago.
Now, you may think that is a bit erratic to just buy an album based on the cover but there was so much more to it. I just got this feeling and that feeling is the same feeling I get everytime I listen to this record.
The lyrics are sometimes humorous "They're telling me to take it like a man, take it like a man. Well. ***. that." But they are clearly not a lyric-based band.
We Are Scientists (per With Love And Squaler) is comprised of three musicians:
Keith Murray: Vocals/Guitar
Chris Cain: Bass
Michael Tapper: Drums (Michael Tapper has since left the band and will be greatly missed on my part)
The album starts out with "Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt" which was the first single for obvious reasons. I'm still trying to fully understand Michael Tapper's beat on this album..granted I'm a very novice drummer at best, I can still generally understand a drum beat upon hearing it...this one I have no clue and I love that! With that infectious beat backing it, a subtle bass line, and a jangly guitar riff I thought at first this song could get no better...then the vocals start. This exact moment is where I fell in love with the band with he decending "wah oh oh oh"'s and the beckon that "if you want to use my body go for it".
"It's A Hit" is another song that really sticks out on the album. Starting with a sort of "call and response" from the bass and guitar before getting into the actual song and going into the mega-poppy chorus. The guitar riff is razor sharp, the sound is crisp, and the backing vocals that start in the third verse are the final ingredient to the We Are Scientists special sauce that makes this song one of the highlights of the record.
"The Scene Is Dead" is another honorable mention. It has a darker feel to it than the other songs. Great bass work and an interesting approach from the drums compliment the vocals and guitar perfectly. This is a great example of why these guys are going to make it big, every member of the band is totally playing off of each other. The bass is doing a slower chugging-type rhythm while the guitar is playing a faster-paced, new wave-ish riff and the drums adding a stuttering effect on the high hats and when all thrown together it sounds brilliant.
"Cash Cow" is a song that stands out on this record, as well. With the urgent snare drum and the very Cure-esque guitar riff and Murray crooning about being so drunk he doesn't know where he is, one may feel they are magically transported to a high school house party.
"The Great Escape" stands out as it is simply the only song on the record that sounds the way that it does. Murray opting for power chords over riffs and the straight forward bass falling in line with the guitar. The vocals are very manic and self-demeaning ("tell myself everything's in shape, everything's in shape but me") and proves to be some of the best lyric writing on the album.
This is one of those rare gems that you can actually listen to from start to finish and be completely satisfied with.
If you have time I suggest you check out www.wearescientists.com as they are not only talented musicians, they are VERY funny. Check out the advice columns.
