We are Scientists reinvent New York sound
By Jeff Renfro
On first listen, "With Love and Squalor," the debut full-length album from We are Scientists, can be lumped in with the rest of the dance-rock acts to come out over the last few years.
Their song structures are similar to Bloc Party or Franz Ferdinand, but the quality of the album does not allow them to be easily dismissed. The tracks have a way of remaining lodged in the head, and the clever lyrics further separate the band from the musical pack.
The members of WAS (Keith Murray on vocals and guitar; Chris Cain on bass; and Michael Tapper on drums) met in California after graduating from college and then moving to New York. The album derives its name from the title of a short story by J.D. Salinger. The humor of the lyrics echoes the off-beat humor of Salinger's writing.
Their Web site (www.wearescientists.com) is full of joke blogs, fake T-shirt designs and interviews with gophers. They are interested in having a good time, but the humor takes the edge off of their insightful criticism of youth culture.
Their sound is clearly influenced by other contemporary New York bands, but "With Love and Squalor" brings a tightness and precision to the writing process, producing an album free of missteps. The album begins with a big, danceable beat complemented with layered guitars and sticks to that model throughout its entirety.
"With Love and Squalor" opens with the buzz-worthy single "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt." The song is anchored by the memorable chorus, "My body is your body/ I won't tell anybody/ if you want to use my body/ go for it, yeah!"
This song is already widely played on British radio, and has recently received increased airplay here in the States. The single, like many of the songs on the album, focuses on wasted nights and anonymous hook-ups. The satirical criticism is dead-on, and always delivered with a wink and smirk.
The album's stand-out track is "This Scene is Dead." It is this track that separates WAS from similar-sounding bands, defining their unique style. They have a way of combining jittery guitars with layered soundscapes. The result is a cross between My Bloody Valentine and Gang of Four. The melody is marked by sharp, distinct notes, but is usually supported by a foundation of fuzzed-out noise.
When WAS gets it right, there is a richness and depth to the tracks that is both energetic and moving. "This Scene is Dead" ends with the line "We can't go home/ the night is young/ I'm blacking out/ but it's been fun." The album closes with the outstanding song "What's the Word." It echoes the layered sound of "This Scene is Dead," and adds a level of introspection to the social criticism.
We are Scientists did not invent their sound, but they do it better than just about anyone. The infectious "With Love and Squalor" can be listened to at a party or alone in the bedroom. Check out WAS on the upcoming U.S. tour and find out why their live shows have been so widely praised on both sides of the Atlantic.
Grade: A-
Contact Jeff Renfro at (408) 551-1918 or jrenfro@scu.edu.