Yesterday’s Releases Today: Los Campesinos!

Well, since local news is a bit slow this week I decided we should (I should) take a look at what was released yesterday and say a few words. This may become a regular thing, especially in the next few weeks with loads of good releases to speak of, but who knows.

Los Campesinos!
Hold On Now, Youngster...
Arts & Crafts

I’m sort of surprised this just came out yesterday since I feel like it’s been out forever. That’s probably because it was released in the UK at the end of February and I’m sure it leaked even before that. (Shame on you, Melissa).

With that said, I’ve obviously had a ton of more time to digest this release then I had with any of the other two this week. So it will be a lot easier to give my impressions of it. The indie pop band from Wales (with plenty of punk too, mind you) are most enjoyable when they incorporate both the yelling sing-alongs with their violin, glockenspiel and less abrasive vocals.

A good example and probably my favorite song on the album would be “Knee Deep at ATP.” Here we are given a solid mix of the frantic instrumentals/shouting vocals with the soft violin/overlapping male and female vocals. It is this giving and taking of one and the other that makes Los Campesinos! who they are, and what works best for them.

Among other songs, “This Is How You Spell ‘Hahaha, We Destroyed The Hopes And Dreams Of A Generation Of Faux-Romantics’” (despite it’s obnoxious title) is another example of the perfect marriage of styles the band gives listeners.

It’s a formula that can certainly go wrong and rub some the wrong way. “Don’t Tell Me To Do The Math(S)” would be an example of that. But other than the rare shortcomings, Hold On Now, Youngster... proves to be a great first release from a great new band.

"Death to Los Campesinos!" can be found on their MySpace.
You can purchase the album here.

Up next: Yelle's Pop-Up and The Black Keys' Attack and Release.