Los Campesinos! has defied the laws of nature. Or, at least, defied the nature of the music industry’s slump. When a single band can muster up enough energy and talent to put out two of 2008’s most notable releases while relentlessly touring, it seems like a slap in the face to the artists working tirelessly for over a decade on music that ends up taking an artistic step backwards (ahem, Axl).
Given that this new album was written and recorded in an eleven-day period, it is astounding to see what this band can accomplish in such a short time. We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed is darker and more fluid than the band’s previous release, Hold on Now, Youngster…, taking the band’s well-calculated pop formula and morphing it into something slightly more mature. While some may fault the album’s lack of standout tracks, others will find its brilliance is its effect when taken as a whole.
From the romanticized lyrical wit and charming chorus of opener “Ways To Make It Through The Wall” (hand claps included), the album leads into a frenzy of synth and violin entanglements that can only be described as pop bliss. The sexual, witty lyricism rings out in a dueling vocal manner, including a reference to a “soft-porn version of the end of the world” on “You’ll Need Those Fingers For Crossing.”
Filled with soft acoustic guitar picking, layers of distorted yet upbeat instrumentation, and drumming too danceable to sit passively through, the band’s formula is clearly still intact.
Most importantly, the 30 minutes of We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed are filled to the brim with content; not a precious second is wasted. You will silently find yourself connecting to the awkward stories, tapping your foot to the beat of the drum, and humming along to the many melodies. And if you ever fall into a state of “Miserabilia,” Los Campesinos! can take your mind off of things, at least for a little while.
Voice’s Choices: “We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed,””Documented Minor Emotional Breakdown #1,” “It’s Never That Easy Though, Is It?”
