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| We Are Scientists - With Love and Squalor | We Are Scientists - With Love and Squalor
Virgin Records
{SCORE: 6.2/10}
At this point, my penchant for dancing is beginning to wear thin.
In 2005 the mainstream saw a surprising emergence of indie bands who, like a snake charmer with his flute, got the toes of American tapping with their modern dance-rock grooves. Ever since, the bass heavy sway, the semi-electronic trill, and the pick-a-minute hook with which The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, and Hot Hot Heat invaded our minds have become a major rock and roll standard. It’s been done, done, and done again and mostly to great effect.
But as we’ve seen most recently with the “emo” trend, the “ska” trend, and the “pop-punk” trend: after a while if you don’t give a genre a little creative CPR, it’s going to lose its flavor, and fast. Perhaps I stand alone here, but I feel the wave of dance-rock has not received enough medical attention. While new artists like Men, Women, and Children still send my pulse soaring, We Are Scientists haven’t found that kindling just yet.
It’s hard to point to a flaw because, as with so many records, it’s not what you hear, it’s what you don’t. The vocals are spot on, and instrumentally the foundation is rock hard. What With Love and Squalor fails to do though, is build upon this foundation. In almost every track I expected a skyscraper, and yet the elevator stopped a couple stories short. A major shortcoming in this whole dance-rock deal is the low malleability of the sound; rarely can a band effectively stretch it to envelop the girth of a full length record.
We Are Scientists have conjured 12 really good songs, championed by the more adventurous “Can’t Lose” and rarely flinching from a straight forward but successful formula. It's a good time had by all, but despite what there is to enjoy, With Love and Squalor does not manage to achieve any of the depth or importance found in the subtly heartbreaking J.D. Salinger short from which the record draws its name.
"It doesn't have to be terribly prolific! Just so that it isn't childish and silly." Esmé reflected. "I prefer stories about squalor." |
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Displaying posts 1 - 15 of 34. |
01:13 PM on 02/22/06 | how does the artwork only get a six? C'mon... | | |
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01:14 PM on 02/22/06 | I absolutely love their album cover, I agree with your review. It was a 3-4 plays and out album for me. | | |
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01:14 PM on 02/22/06 | Shinigami Is Watching You I like this album, but most likely because I have not heard much of this genre before. Since buying it, I played it maybe a dozen times, and its a welcome diversion. The music is tight, vocals do not annoy me and the lyrics are easy to sing along to. It doesnt have much staying power, but hey, for now I enjoy it.
your review is dead on! | | |
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01:14 PM on 02/22/06 | Originally Posted by isaaccore how does the artwork only get a six? C'mon... |
i hate cats :\ | | |
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01:33 PM on 02/22/06 | um, i adore this album. i think every song is worthy of being a single. definitely good pop music if anything, so i think 6.2 is a little low. | | |
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02:00 PM on 02/22/06 | I would have gave this a 7 or so, I love Inaction. | | |
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02:19 PM on 02/22/06 | "At this point, my penchant for dancing is beginning to wear thin."
Amen Garrett | | |
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02:26 PM on 02/22/06 | A meow massages the heart. lmao. "It doesn't have to be terribly prolific! Just so that it isn't childish and silly." Esmé reflected. "I prefer stories about squalor."
that is perhaps the worst joke i have ever heard. hahaha Series of Unfortunate Events!! haaa. | | |
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02:28 PM on 02/22/06 | Originally Posted by GRIFFARD lmao. "It doesn't have to be terribly prolific! Just so that it isn't childish and silly." Esmé reflected. "I prefer stories about squalor."
that is perhaps the worst joke i have ever heard. hahaha Series of Unfortunate Events!! haaa. |
haha i have no idea what you're talking about... i was referencing Salinger's For Esme: With Love and Squalor, my fav short story | | |
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03:11 PM on 02/22/06 | I would give this album a 7 or an 8, Inaction is a fantastic track, and It's A Hit is also a standout for me | | |
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04:17 PM on 02/22/06 | Originally Posted by Garett Press haha i have no idea what you're talking about... i was referencing Salinger's For Esme: With Love and Squalor, my fav short story |
Daniel Handler got the name Esme Squalor of Series of Unfortunate Events from this short story, it's not a joke at all. | | |
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04:41 PM on 02/22/06 | Originally Posted by Garett Press haha i have no idea what you're talking about... i was referencing Salinger's For Esme: With Love and Squalor, my fav short story |
Hahaha, fucking owned him.
I agree with the review; this CD lost my interest pretty quickly. | | |
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05:18 PM on 02/22/06 | i totally disagree about the staying power of this cd. i listen to it constantly, i think its awesome. | | |
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05:21 PM on 02/22/06 | You know Elvis had a twin brother? Originally Posted by fever i totally disagree about the staying power of this cd. i listen to it constantly, i think its awesome. |
I agree. I've been listening to "With Love And Squalor", and I actually like it alot more than when I bought it. | | |
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