Album Review: We Are Scientists - 'Huffy'
We Are Scientists stick to their best stuff on seventh album ‘Huffy’, with their unique craft of indie pop-rock that sounds good while swerving the mould.
Born out of New York’s burgeoning ‘Meet Me In The Bathroom’-era music scene, mainstays singer Keith Murray and bassist Chris Cain, and drummer Keith Carne, have always taken their own light-hearted path.
The indie veterans continue banging and crashing in their typical WAS way, through opener ‘You’ve Lost Your Shit’, and the distorted guitars of ‘Contact High’ that make it slot in nicely alongside the tracks that have given the band their much-loved name and fanbase.
Hook-laden ‘Handshake Agreement’ keeps everyone grooving and moving, while scholarly tracks ‘Just Education’ and ‘Sentimental Education’ show they’re well placed to teach a thing or two to younger bands who have scaled higher heights with lesser material.
Keith’s lyrics, and delivery, add an air of intelligence to their pop music, and the world is better for it.
The details of ‘Fault Lines’ and ‘Pandemonium’ are there to explore and adore, continued proof the band will not take their feet off the throttle despite 15 years on the indie scene since ‘With Love And Squalor’.
Penultimate track ‘Bought Myself A Grave’ feels alien for WAS, with its slower, twangier vibe, but it clicks perfectly. A curveball from the rest of ‘Huffy’, it lifts the whole record up, before manoeuvring into a different, yet still fascinating, instrumental section. The whole thing hints at a future storytelling avenue for Keith if the indie rock well runs dry.
It feels sensible for WAS to return to regular footing with closer ‘Behaviour Unbecoming’. It solidifies what the band can do, with a tune that you can nod your head to.
‘Huffy’ is a punchy selection of ten songs to treasure, leaving nothing behind. The band are content being individuals, after years of hit crafting. This album may not give WAS the respect they deserve, but long may their knack for clever pop songs continue.
In ‘I Cut My Own Hair’, Keith sings “I’ve never been much for your lessons, and I’m not gonna start right now.” It could be an official We Are Scientists motto.
Words by Samuel Draper