With Love and Squalor - We are Scientists

By Tony Merevick

Fresh out of New York, with three EPs already under their belts, We Are Scientists release their debut album, With Love and Squalor. The band possess the qualities of many great bands around today, yet manage to have their own unique sound that is almost beyond comparison.

On the band’s myspace, they say that they are influenced by chemicals. What we should ask ourselves is ‘what kind of chemicals?’ and ‘will they share?’ Besides the drug innuendo, We Are Scientists have gained a great following in the UK and are sure to grow with even more popularity upon the release of this album.

With Love and Squalor, is an Indie Rock explosion. The first track, “Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt,” is super-catchy and fun, with great hooks and even better vocals. The song sets the stage for an exciting album, and an overall fantastic listening experience. We Are Scientists grab your attention from the very start and you are steadily immersed in the rest of the album as it plays out.

"This Scene is Dead,” is not as upbeat as the first track, but it is still pleasing and comprised of even more brilliant guitar work done by Keith Murray (lead vocals, guitar) and Chris Cain (bass guitar, back-up vocals). The same applies to “Inaction,” which starts with awesome guitar riffs that dive the listener into the rest of the song that is over before you know it.

Not all of the songs on this album are fast-paced or upbeat. After “Inaction,” comes “Can’t Lose,” which lowers the tone and allows We Are Scientists to show their more thoughtful and somewhat Emo side. All three scientists prove that while they could be fun, they can be equally serious.

The fun tone returns as the album continues. “Callbacks,” is faster and shows off the Scientists’ sharp guitar edge. You don’t need a microscope to see that this band is a good one. The action moves on and up with “Cash Cow” and “The Great Escape."

Near the end of the album, the drumming done by Michael Tapper reaches a higher level of brilliance and intensity. The feverish drumming is especially evident in songs such as "Lousy Reputation," and "What’s The Word," which is the last track on the album.

We Are Scientists have delivered a masterful first album, packed with witty lyrics, intense guitar spectacles, and drumming that will make you sweat. It would be safe to hypothesize that with the release of With Love and Squalor, and the start of their American tour, they will receive a fantastic response from redundancy-wearied music lovers everywhere.