Brooklyn-based power pop troupe We Are Scientists have returned with a jubilant new release that comes as welcome relief amidst the doom and gloom soundtrack that seems to have permeated most aspects of our lives.
The band’s seventh album, titled ‘Megaplex’, sees the now renowned duo of Keith Murray and Chris Cain dazzle with ten brand new splashes of colourful and utterly addictive pop.
Recorded at the Tim Wheeler from Ash’s studio much of the record bears a resemblance to the aforementioned pop rockers.
It is entertaining, upbeat and classically melodic for a band that has become well-known for their energetic records.
But does mark an evolution for the band.
“In the past we’ve used our music to educate, to enlighten, to awaken people to the depth and complexity of moral concerns”, says Chris.
“This time, we really wanted to drop a fun-bomb. Something to dance or f*** to”.
With a vast pool of songs to play with, the duo set about honing down a sprawling burst of creativity to make the concise pop beast that is ‘Megaplex’.
“At this point in our career, we’ve written so many songs,” explains Keith.
“The pool for this record alone was something like 90 songs deep — that we know exactly what we want out of a We Are Scientists record.
“We want it to be taut, to bang hard, to have a big hook every four seconds or so.
“We don’t have to be precious about which songs make it onto a record; we can listen to the ones that didn’t make it at home, on our own time. ‘Megaplex’ is just the ten most delicious songs that
we have — a stacked-up compound of entertainment.
“It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of honing of craft to make it to six records.
“I mean, the Velvet Underground never made six albums. The Smiths didn’t. Pavement, Guns N’ Roses, The Stooges — none of them could do it. So, I guess we’re just objectively better than those bands now?
“It’s just a mathematical fact, right? Van Halen made six with David Lee Roth but only four with Sammy Hagar, so I guess we’re better than Hagar-era Van Halen but only just as good as Roth-era?
“Which, saying it out loud, makes total sense, yeah.”
‘Megaplex track listing’
One In, One Out
Notes In A Bottle
Heart Is A Weapon
Your Light Has Changed
KIT
No Wait at Five Leaves
Not Another Word
Now or Never
You Failed
Properties of Perception
Catch the band live at the following dates:
Sun 01 Apr 2018 Hull The Welly
Wed 02 May 2018 Bristol The Thekla
Thu 03 May 2018 Brighton Concorde 2
Fri 04 May 2018 London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Sat 05 May 2018 Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Sun 06 May 2018 Birmingham Institute 3
Tue 08 May 2018 Leeds Church Leeds
Wed 09 May 2018 Manchester Gorilla
Thu 10 May 2018 Glasgow The Garage
Fri 11 May 2018 Belfast Limelight 2
Sat 12 May 2018 Dublin Academy
Sun 13 May 2018 Sheffield 02 Academy 2
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