We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed

Last updated

We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed
LC! - WeAreBeautiful,WeAreDoomed.jpg
Studio album by
Los Campesinos!
Released27 October 2008
Recorded12–23 June 2008
Studio Avast Recording Co., Seattle
Electrokitty, Seattle
Stars and Sons, Toronto
Genre Indie rock, indie pop, noise pop
Length32:10
Label Wichita, Arts & Crafts
Producer John Goodmanson
Los Campesinos! chronology
Hold on Now, Youngster...
(2008)		We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed
(2008)		 Romance Is Boring
(2010)

We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed is the second studio album [upper-alpha 1] by Welsh indie pop band Los Campesinos!. It was released on 27 October 2008 via Wichita. Recorded over 11 days in June 2008 with John Goodmanson in Seattle, the record was released with no singles, just 33 weeks after their debut album, Hold on Now, Youngster... (from February 2008). [3] [4] The album's title was taken from a review of the band by Kieron Gillen, with lyrics from the first track being inspired from his comic Phonogram. [5]

Contents

The album was met with universal acclaim due to its musical cohesiveness and exploration into noise pop. Its song "Miserabilia" was named the 94th best song of 2008 by Rolling Stone . [6]

Release

In February 2008, Los Campesinos! released their debut studio album, Hold on Now, Youngster..., which debuted at number 72 on the UK Albums Chart. [7] In August 2008, they announced the release of their second album and its track listing. [8] Frontman Gareth Paisey reassured listeners of the record's quality despite its unusually quick turnaround, posting to the band's blog: "This is no post-album cash-in...it’s ten all-new tracks that none of you have ever heard before". [9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Christgau's Consumer Guide B+ [11]
Drowned in Sound 7/10 [12]
Entertainment Weekly A [13]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [14]
Pitchfork 8.3/10 [15]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Spin Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]

Initial critical response was very positive. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album was met with universal acclaim, receiving an average score of 82, based on 22 reviews. [18]

Almost all critics agreed the album was superior to their debut from early 2008, Hold on Now, Youngster... . Writing for NME, Louis Pattison concluded: "Cooked up in a session originally meant to spawn a batch of B-sides, We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed instead debuts 10 songs that outstrip LC!’s debut album at every turn". [14] For AllMusic, Tim Sendra claimed the record "has more depth and feeling". He said that earlier fans "may be initially put off by the emotion and desperation on display [but] they need to give the record a chance to take hold ... it grabs you by the throat and the heart, and doesn't let go". [10]

Track listing

All tracks written by Gareth Paisey and Tom Bromley, except "Heart Swells/Pacific Daylight Time" co-written by Neil Turner and Zac Pennington.

  1. "Ways to Make It Through the Wall" – 4:12
  2. "Miserabilia" – 3:15
  3. "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed" – 3:54
  4. "Between an Erupting Earth and an Exploding Sky" – 1:16
  5. "You'll Need Those Fingers for Crossing" – 5:09
  6. "It's Never That Easy Though, Is It? (Song for the Other Kurt)" – 2:21
  7. "The End of the Asterisk" – 1:52
  8. "Documented Minor Emotional Breakdown #1" – 4:27
  9. "Heart Swells/Pacific Daylight Time" – 2:37
  10. "All Your Kayfabe Friends" – 3:15

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2008)Peak
position
US Top Heatseekers [19] 43

Release history

The CD version was released with an accompanying DVD featuring a short documentary of the band during their 2008 tour, as well as a 32-page booklet which, in addition to liner notes and lyrics, also includes drawings and poems from Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu, Zac Pennington of Parenthetical Girls, Brent Knopf of Menomena and Ramona Falls, and Paul Heaton of The Housemartins and The Beautiful South, among others.[ citation needed ]

DateCountryLabel (Cat#)
27 October 2008United Kingdom Wichita Recordings (WEBB187)
25 November 2008United States/Canada Arts & Crafts (A&C037)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garbage (band)</span> American rock band

Garbage is an American rock band formed in 1993 in Madison, Wisconsin. The band's line-up—consisting of Scottish singer Shirley Manson (vocals) and American musicians Duke Erikson, Steve Marker, and Butch Vig —has remained unchanged since its inception. All four members are involved in the songwriting and production process. Garbage has sold over 17 million albums worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Heaton</span> British musician (born 1962)

Paul David Heaton is an English singer-songwriter. He was the frontman of the Housemartins, who had success with the singles "Happy Hour" and the UK number one "Caravan of Love" in 1986 before disbanding in 1988. He then formed The Beautiful South, whose debut single and album were released in 1989 to commercial success. They had a series of hits throughout the 1990s, including the number-one single "A Little Time". They disbanded in 2007. He subsequently pursued a solo career, which produced three albums, and in 2014 he released What Have We Become?, a collaboration with former Beautiful South vocalist Jacqui Abbott. As of 2022, he has recorded four more albums with her: Wisdom, Laughter and Lines in 2015, Crooked Calypso in 2017, Manchester Calling in 2020 and N.K-Pop in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloc Party</span> English indie rock band

Bloc Party are an English rock band that was formed in London in 1999 by co-founders Kele Okereke and Russell Lissack. They are joined in the band's current iteration by Louise Bartle and touring bassist Harry Deacon. Former members Matt Tong, Gordon Moakes and Justin Harris left the band in 2013, 2015 and 2023 respectively. Their brand of music, whilst rooted in rock, retains elements of other genres such as electronica and house music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deerhoof</span> American band

Deerhoof is an American musical group formed in San Francisco in 1994. They consist of founding drummer Greg Saunier, bassist and singer Satomi Matsuzaki, and guitarists John Dieterich and Ed Rodriguez. Beginning as an improvised noise punk band, Deerhoof became widely renowned and influential in the 2000s through their self-produced albums.

John Goodmanson is an American recording engineer and indie rock record producer. He is best known for producing multiple albums by Bikini Kill, Blonde Redhead, Death Cab for Cutie, Los Campesinos!, and Sleater-Kinney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Campesinos!</span> Welsh indie rock band

Los Campesinos! are a seven-piece indie pop band from Cardiff, Wales, formed in early 2006 at Cardiff University. The band has seen several lineup changes - Gareth Paisey, Neil Turner (guitar) and Tom Bromley (guitar) are the only remaining original members, now joined by Rob Taylor (guitar), Kim Paisey, Matt Fidler and Jason Adelinia (drums). All replace their surnames with "Campesinos!" as stage names.

<i>Sticking Fingers into Sockets</i> 2007 EP by Los Campesinos!

Sticking Fingers into Sockets is a compilation EP released by Welsh indie pop band Los Campesinos! in 2007. It collects their two previously released 7-inch UK singles onto one CD. It was released through Arts & Crafts, being the band's first release with the label.

<i>Hold on Now, Youngster...</i> 2008 studio album by Los Campesinos!

Hold on Now, Youngster... is the debut studio album by Welsh indie pop band Los Campesinos!, released through Wichita on 22 February 2008. It debuted at number 72 on the UK Album Charts. The album was preceded by three singles – "Death to Los Campesinos!" (February), "My Year in Lists" (May), and most notably, "You! Me! Dancing!" released in June 2007.

<i>Butch</i> (album) 1997 studio album by The Geraldine Fibbers

Butch is the second and final studio album by American alternative country band The Geraldine Fibbers. It was released on July 1, 1997.

<i>Romance Is Boring</i> 2010 studio album by Los Campesinos!

Romance Is Boring is the third studio album by Welsh indie pop band Los Campesinos!, released on 26 January 2010 via Wichita and Arts & Crafts. Produced by John Goodmanson, the album's maximalist production, unconventional structure and particularly demoralising themes marked a departure from the band's previous twee pop sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There Are Listed Buildings</span> 2009 single by Los Campesinos!

"There Are Listed Buildings" is a song by Welsh indie pop band Los Campesinos!, released on 2 November 2009 as the lead single to their third studio album Romance Is Boring. It was initially distributed via digital download and as a seven-inch single only available on their 2009 UK tour. Frontman Gareth Paisey said the track was influenced by the work of Death Cab for Cutie.

<i>Alls Well That Ends</i> 2010 EP by Los Campesinos!

All's Well That Ends is the second extended play by Welsh eight-piece band Los Campesinos!. It was recorded in June 2010 and features reworkings of four songs from the band's third album Romance Is Boring.

<i>Hello Sadness</i> 2011 studio album by Los Campesinos!

Hello Sadness is the fourth studio album by Welsh indie pop band Los Campesinos!. It was recorded during summer 2011 in a small studio near Figueres, Spain, and was produced by John Goodmanson. It is the band's first release to feature new drummer Jason and the first full-length release to feature new members Rob and Kim, who had previously first appeared on the All's Well That Ends EP in 2010. The album is also the group's final release to feature violinist Harriet, who left before the album's release, and bassist Ellen who left the band in December 2012.

"The Sea Is a Good Place to Think of the Future" is a song by Welsh indie pop band Los Campesinos!, released on 2 September 2009 as a promotional single for their third studio album, Romance is Boring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bastille (band)</span> British indie pop band

Bastille are a British indie pop band formed in 2010. The group began as a solo project by lead vocalist Dan Smith, but later expanded to include keyboardist Kyle Simmons, bassist and guitarist Will Farquarson and drummer Chris Wood.

Nosferatu D2 were an English indie rock band from Croydon, Surrey, England. They were active from 2005 to 2007 and remained unsigned during that time. The band experienced posthumous acclaim and interest when the debuting Audio Antihero record label issued their unreleased debut album "We're Gonna Walk Around This City With Our Headphones On To Block Out The Noise."

<i>No Blues</i> 2013 studio album by Los Campesinos!

No Blues is the fifth studio album by Welsh indie rock band Los Campesinos!. It was released on 29 October 2013 via Wichita Recordings, Turnstile and Heart Swells. The album was produced by John Goodmanson and guitarist Tom Bromley, and is the first to not feature founding bassist Ellen Waddell, who amicably left the group in late 2012.

<i>Sick Scenes</i> 2017 studio album by Los Campesinos!

Sick Scenes is the sixth studio album by Welsh indie rock band Los Campesinos!. The album was released on 24 February 2017 by Wichita Recordings. The album was produced by John Goodmanson and the band's guitarist Tom Bromley at a studio in the Fridão parish of Amarante, Portugal. It is the band's first album to feature bassist Matt Fidler, who joined the group in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Campesinos! discography</span> Discography of Welsh indie pop band Los Campesinos!

The discography of Welsh indie pop band Los Campesinos! consists of six studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, four extended plays and twenty singles.

<i>Whole Damn Body</i> 2021 EP by Los Campesinos!

Whole Damn Body is an extended play (EP) by Welsh indie rock band Los Campesinos!, released independently on 7 May 2021. It is a compilation of songs recorded from the sessions of their fourth studio album, Hello Sadness (2011), most of which had only been released via the band's zine or fan website. Whole Damn Body was released digitally and on cassette to coincide with the record's tenth anniversary.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Due to contractual reasons, the band originally refused to call We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed their second album, rather a mini-album or an EP. [1] However, by 2017, frontman Gareth Paisey relented, calling it their second album because: "I want to be able to say that 'my band has released six albums' ... because it makes us seem like we've been more important for longer". [2]

Citations

  1. ↑ "Gareth Campesinos of Los Campesinos!". The A.V. Club. 9 December 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  2. ↑ Garland, Emma (9 March 2017). "Los Campesinos! Rank Their First Five—Yes, There Were Five—Records – Noisey". Noisey. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  3. ↑ "Los Campesinos! Announce We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed Album". Archived from the original on 23 November 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
  4. ↑ "Los Campesinos! Ready New Album". Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
  5. ↑ "You, Me, Dancing: The Impact Of Gillen, McKelvie And Wilson's 'Phonogram'". Comics Alliance. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "Singles of the Year : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone . 13 December 2008. Archived from the original on 13 December 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "Los Campesinos". Official Charts Company. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  8. ↑ Michaels, Sean (7 August 2008). "Los Campesinos! to release second album - already!". The Guardian . Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  9. ↑ Ozga, Matthew (12 December 2008). "Punk, with Occasional Glockenspiel". The Brooklyn Rail. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  10. 1 2 "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  11. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Los Campesinos!". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  12. ↑ Weiler, Joseph. "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  13. ↑ Greenwald, Andy. "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  14. 1 2 NME (10 October 2008). "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed". NME. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  15. ↑ Hogan, Marc. "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed". Pitchfork. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  16. ↑ Hoard, Christopher. "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  17. ↑ Thomas, Lindsey. "Los Campesinos!, 'We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed' (Arts&Crafts)". Spin. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  18. ↑ "Los Campesinos!:We are Beautiful, We Are Doomed (2008):Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  19. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-12-20/heatseekers-albums%5B%5D
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.