Review:

on 2012-03-05 CharlesMartel Said:

Back in the days, disenchanted bands used to sing about the state of the world  politics and how the military industrial complex and global capitalism was going to be the ruination of us all. Los Campesinos still sing about the state of the world. But their world is limited to the fact that the girl you adore resolutely refuses to acknowledge your existence and how the world, life and everything about it suck as a consequence. Whatever happened to good old protest songs? OK, the Buzzcocks did something similar, but Jesus that was over thirty years ago! Is all that the modern western world has come down to is the failure to kiss that girl at school any more?

Los Campesinos are a seven piece British outfit who seem to want to be part of the so-called Second Indie Wars of the late eighties - jangle pop and protest all mixed into one. The problem is that it is done without conviction, or so it seems, and with a true dearth of original ideas thrown in for good measure.

Straight up, we have the long song titles. Now this, I am convinced, as I have been with other albums, is a cover-up for a lack of originality and daring. But there is worse to come. Guess what - phallic is an adjective of no great merit. It is not a rude word and therefore there seems to be little reason why the word should form the focal point of a song as if it were the recipient of the Rude Word of 2010 award.

If I didn't know better I would say that Los Campesinos were a parody band, a band whose existence was predicated solely on their willingness and ability to mock those bands who play indie music for a serious artistic reason. Had it been so, then this might have been good. But as it is not, I cannot say that the album gives me any cause for optimism. Now, the band may seem to be enjoying themselves while playing it, but seriously, is that enough? Fang Island also seem to be enjoying themselves on their debut, but that smacks of self-indulgence and this is little better. If that were enough, then surely the drunken ramblings of some guy hogging the karaoke machine with incessant renditions of Bon Jovi singles would constitute the album of the year. But, thankfully, it does not. And neither does this. It is OK in places, but fails to provide enough to hold the attention. There is simply nothing about it that is original enough.

Romance is boring, eh? Not just romance, it would seem.
Rating: 5/10

Review:

on 2010-01-29 Sara Said:

Los Campesinos!, the punctuation-happy seven-piece from Wales, have grown up. Not all the way up  theyre still kicking the dirt with their old worn sneakers and lamenting the ache of unrequited love. But now, theyre kicking it with the addition of a new member, some instrumental filler and a bit more life experience on their backs.

Romance is Boring, the bands third release, is punctuated with obsession, jealousy and all the things you love in a band, but hate in a significant other. Theyve kept some of their signature sound  yell-along lyrics and unabashed British accents  but combined it with darker themes and some justified bitterness. And though its true that LC! may be that melodramatic friend that youd never want to date, you still want to have them around to watch the drama unfold.

Though occasionally a bit messy, this new attitude looks good on Los Campesinos!. The fourth song on the album is titled Weve Got Your Back (Documented Minor Emotional Breakdown #2) and thats essentially what this is: a fifty-minute emotional breakdown. Thankfully, unlike that melodramatic friend sobbing to you over the phone for the better part of an hour, this is actually enjoyable to listen to.

(www.beatroute.ca/view_article.php?sectionID=4&articleID=2739)
Not Rated

Review:

on 2010-01-29 Drcrockett Said:

The things that spring into mind when thinking of Wales fall somewhere along the lines of Sheep, strange scary languages, sheep, and music. Wales produced some great musicians such as Tom Jones, Pete Townshend (The Who), Stereophonics, Lostprophets, and Los Campesinos doesnt fail to deliver. Romance is Boring may seem familiar to previous fans, and front man Gareth Campesinos lyrics incorporating your typical melodramatic subjects of Life, Love, Death and sex still play through in a huge crash instruments.
Through Gareths shout at ravaged relationships and ruined romances may set the scene for an emo album, the Band, formed whilst students at Cardiff University, manages to keep the album uplifting with wicked beats, a subtle Bass line and the seven-piece show that they have found their sound! Not just the pop/indie/punk as they describe themselves, but a menagerie of aggressive tones that arranges itself, surprisingly, to a new album somewhat detached from their debut album released less than 2 years ago.
Moving onto the tracks themselves, my only complaint is over half of the tracks overuse this sound that Los Campesinos! Have discovered to the point where many of the songs blur into one which waves over you. This is compensated by the pure excellence of some songs. In Media Res opens the album nicely in a contrasting tone Gareths style before leading into a good old fashioned shout along song. There are listed Buildings and the title track Romance is Boring hit you as just legitimate, inspired songs whilst Weve got your Back twists itself to lead into a well coordinated ballad. The surprising thing is that these actually work and bring the album far above Los Campesinos! previous two.
There is a lot that this album has to offer, and whilst the music style itself is good, it is not entirely unique. There are traces of FOB and MCR emo sentimentalism mixed in with heavier Green Day brand punk. It is defiantly worth listening to, and a lot of it is certainly feel good despite the typical lost love lyrical genre. Especially as that dreaded Valentines Day draws near. Still single? Well... Romance is Boring.

Rating: 7/10