Anne WidjajaVerdict: We Are Scientists - 'Barbara'
July 5th 2010 12:27
The biggest problem with Barbara is that the tracks all zoom by at lightening speed. The catchy hooks, ziggy synths and upbeat tempos all blur together like swirling remnants of a messy night you can only half recollect in the morning. And like those morning afters, by the end of Barbara, you'll be thinking that it was all much better than it actually was at the time. Whilst there may be a marked return to the climbing electric guitar riffs and boppy grooves ('I Don't Bite') that were so masterfully crafted on 'With Love and Squalor', through all of Barbara's chirpy shine, the tracks still fall short of momentous.
However, that's not to say their aren't any classic WAS uppers on the album. 'Pittsburgh' goes where all the tracks on the album should really be neatly sitting - half way between the dramatic synths on 'Brain Thrust Mastery' and the soaring choruses ala 'Worth The Wait' on 'With Love'. 'Pittsburgh' sails through your speakers on thumping drums, a spacey guitar melody and Keith's smooth, eerie croon "We're only after one thing...oooh". The cruisy, sing a long choruses of 'Break it Up' and 'Nice Guys' also sail by on nicely built up bridges and simple guitar solos. These tracks do prove that WAS are to some extent, rather undeniable when they harness their power to create sunny pop tracks.
Overall, Barbara does show a step in the right direction. The band seems to be very much on their way to redefining a new sound, after all the band has been without a permanent drummer since 07. I can't help but enjoy anything these guys serve up, download limits on my google images sprees be damned.
| 92 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Anonymous
What a fantastic review! I know that it would have been difficult to write given your immense love for all things WAS/Keith Murray.
Your favourite fan, Mon xox