It’s O.K. if you can’t dance a single step. Los Campesinos! will have you ready to bust a move with their second album. Only five months after their debut Hold on Now, Youngster…, the seven piece indie newcomers from Cardiff, Wales bring an energy rush to your stereo with We are Beautiful, We are Doomed.” Other than the fact that the entire album is remarkably catchy to the point that it’s hard to avoid dancing to the beat, Los Campesinos! shows their sense of humor with bitter, yet seemingly playful lyrics that flow perfectly with the chanting, fast choruses, and catchy sound.
We are Beautiful, We are Doomed starts off “Ways to Make it Through a Wall.” The song has a powerful melodic opening, like many other tracks on the record. “Miserabilia” has a country-western feel, featuring strings and a smooth melody. Ending the song with the words “shout at the world because the world doesn’t love you!” isn’t by any means a reflection of the song. “Miserabilia” is sets a trend for the rest of the record with its captivating lyrics and versatile set of vocals.
“Between an Erupting Earth and an Exploding Sky,” the fourth song on We are Beautiful, We are Doomed, begins slowly with scratchy guitar riffs and transitions to piano keys, sirens and clapping. Not only is it a noticeable track since it is instrumental,but it serves as a transition into “You’ll Need Those Fingers for Crossing,” a relatively slow paced song compared to the rest of the album.
The eighth track isn’t quite a melodramatic train wreck. “Documented Minor Emotional Breakdown #1” is just as memorable as the rest of the songs on the record. Los Campesinos! use of melodic verses and hard-hitting choruses keep your toes tapping.
“Heart Swells/Pacific Daylight Time” is easily the most melodramatic song on the record with eerie sound effects. A loud opening fools the listener, later fading into a mellow guitar solo, followed by gusts of wind and muffled singing. The song ends on an upbeat note, demonstrating the flexibility in sound Los Campesinos! give to their listeners.
Los Campesinos! ends the record with “All Your Kayfabe Friends,” which opens with screeching guitars and serves as a typical Los Campesinos! happy-go-lucky tune, not that it’s a bad thing. “All Your Kayfabe” closes We are Beautiful, We are Doomed with a smile on your face and silly lyrics such as “I’m being paid 35 pence an hour as a specialist foot fetish model.”
If you liked the first album or you’re giving them their first spin, you’ll love the new album if poppy choruses and a cheerful tune make your day. Los Campesinos! made an equally impressive performance on their second studio effort. We are Beautiful, We are Doomed was not only consistent with Hold on Now, Youngster…, but left hopes for a third album to be released another five months from now.
