At first glance, We Are Scientists appears to be even more arrogant than the dozens of other hipster groups trying to make a name for themselves. The group's photos make them look like three guys who insist on sharing every answer in philosophy class, and their website smugly praises each of them as part of a 'three-tusked mastodon.'
Their debut album 'With Love and Squalor' helps break through some of this pretension by providing an accessible piece of work'unfortunately, it also shows that their pretentiousness is one of the main things distinguishing them. They construct a cohesive and entertaining debut for themselves, but fall just short of their stated goal to deliver 'rock music of the thoughtful, sometimes epic, often loud, vaguely danceable, implicitly humanist variety,'
The band'guitarist Keith Murray, bassist Chris Cain and drummer Michael Tapper'claim on their website to follow to 'Advanced High Level Sectional Articulation' where each musician plays something distinct from the other two. They pull this pretentious goal off surprisingly well: Tapper's drumming has an almost techno feel to it in tracks like the opening 'Nobody Move, Nobody Gets Hurt' and Cain and Murray's riffing on 'Worth the Wait' makes the track live up to its title.
The three are talented musicians, but their talents have not been steered toward creating an original sound. Half of the album has a strong resemblance to The Strokes' Is This It, complete with vibrating distorted guitar riffs and an echoic chorus. We Are Scientists has cleaned up that familiar sound with Murray's stronger vocals and guitar playing, but it's next to impossible to shake the feeling you have heard this before.
Lyrically, the band does not stray too far from the traditional indie themes of partying and depression. Songs like 'Textbook' dwell on being confused by life with a chorus of 'Another textbook situation / everything I know I've read / what's the point of medication / it only makes me wish I'm dead.' Good cheer is lacking from their lyrics, which is disappointing, as it seems the band would benefit by writing something more light-hearted.
While the entire album tends to blend together into one long guitar riff, there are some moments in the album that jar listeners out of their stupor and showcase a bit of originality on We Are Scientists' part. 'Can't Lose' has a haunting guitar solo backed up by harmonies reminiscent of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, and 'The Great Escape' has a twanging guitar opening which is pleasantly clearer than the rest of the album.
'With Love and Squalor' may not be as original as anything from more established indie groups like Wilco or the New Pornographers, but it is still a fairly engaging album and a promising debut. Hopefully, as their career progresses, We Are Scientists will carve out a more individual image for themselves 'and tone down the hipster pretensions'to make their music a first choice for listeners, and not just be a poor's man Strokes.
