The Beat Surrender

In the short time they’ve been releasing music We Are Scientists have caused quite a commotion on both sides of the Atlantic and I’m not just talking about the rush to sign them (one which Virgin Music won), no something generally also seems to happen whenever the band play live. As Keith Murray the lead vocalist says “We’re more into having an engaging, energetic live show than delivering something that’s simply the album played live, when things go ‘wrong’ – when equipment fails or the drums fall over or I slice my hand open- we love it�.

They formed in 2001 in Berkeley, CA before moving to New York, a place where they got the bands name following a conversation with the man at the U-Haul company. It’s also the city that has musically inspired the band. We Are Scientists have certainly taken a little bit of something from the likes of Interpol and The Strokes, to their credit though it’s not the one overriding thing you remember this album for as they do have plenty of their own sound bursting out of every song.

I think the reason why they get away with it so comfortably is that vocally the songs are nearer to a front man like Matt Bellamy from Muse than they are Julian Casablancas. The notes are extended and the vocals take on a grandness to them that you wouldn’t necessarily expect from a post punk band with a guitar dance ethic.

I think one of the other things you’ve got to admire about We Are Scientists is that there is a certain hedonistic feel to the band and the subsequent music. Debut single Nobody Move, Nobody Gets Hurt is a perfect example, with its stuttering and panic-y edge, or This Scene Is Dead that contains the chorus “The night is young, I’m blacking out, but it’s been fun� all this and it also comes complete with chiming guitar riffs at the start and then squalling guitars as it builds to that chorus, a lot to get your head around but worth it if you can.

Continue