We Are Scientists
With Love and Squalor

THE REVIEW

A little reminiscent of Muse, a little drawing from the countless mod-bands in circulation, but nevertheless, We Are Scientists have managed to make themselves appreciated and, moreover, have managed to produce an excellent album that, okay, won't go down in history, won't be celebrated like an album by The Jam, but it will be "listened to" and, why not, danced to or hummed by many; maybe it’s the sharp, almost electronic guitar riffs, maybe it's the bass lines that serve more as melody than accompaniment, or maybe it's the frantic rhythms of a crazy drum, but the album can make a day "sadly cheerfully energetic", precisely because it has what it takes to engage from the first track… the first track (indeed), "Nobody move, nobody get hurt", immediately makes you want to listen to the entire album without interruptions, being very catchy and well-structured both vocally and musically; the drums become the instrument par excellence, providing the right backdrop to an almost dirty guitar, without reverb or other effects, and a bass that drives, completes, and serves as an excellent glue. "Cash Cow", the sixth track, is among the many that managed to convince me more from the first listen; a small drum fill kicks off a repetitive but hypnotic guitar riff, something to sweat over if we were at one of their concerts, and the chorus, sharp, fast, and well-sung, gives the whole song a magical touch; I don't know, but Muse keep resurfacing in my mind more and more, well, it doesn't matter if a work like this is really beautiful. Given the use of basic band instruments only (bass, guitar, and drums), the tracks might seem a bit all the same (especially at the beginning), but I assure you that the skill and hypnotism that these three characters manage to show will make you forget this small detail; I can assure you! Note how the bass really becomes the sole great protagonist in pieces like the poignant and intense "Lousy reputation" where, moreover, the "triumphant" chorus is one of the most beautiful things on the album, also thanks to the splendid little choruses supporting all the instrumental parts of the latter. The paranoid "Textbook" has a fantastic drum, with empty breaks that build the purest anguish, and some very peculiar and well-placed falsetto parts. If instead, you're looking for the best confusion, go listen to "Callbacks" or the last track, the lively and sharp "What's the word". The album can be a great soundtrack for films like "Quadrophenia"! Just to give you an idea...

Finally, if we want to understand each other: the album places itself in the realm of mod music, the sound is that of it, the style is that of it, there's nothing to be done, Muse and the Strokes have been very influential, and it shows, but We Are Scientists managed to give their music that special touch that saves them (in my humble opinion) from being labeled as copies of copies of copies. So, I recommend purchasing "With Love and Squalor", it's really worth it! It doesn't matter if one is a fan of ska or rap, in front of a beautiful work like this, no one can remain indifferent.

Here you go, non-paying audience, the tracklist: 1) "Nobody move, nobody get hurt" 2) "The scene is dead" 3) "Inaction" 4) "Can't lose" 5) "Callbacks" 6) "Cash cow" 7) "It's a hit" 8) "The great escape" 9) "Textbook" 10) "Lousy reputation" 11) "Worth the wait" 12) "