Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed

Quirky, twee, and youthful are just three of the many words that have been used to describe the seven-piece Welsh band, Los Campesinos!. Now, there's one more adjective that should be added to the bunch: ambitious. Only six months after the release of their debut album, Hold On Now, Youngster, LC! is back with their follow-up album already, making good on their promise of ten new tracks and not old b-sides or rarities. We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed, due out on October 13, not surprisingly picks up where LC!'s last album left off. Brimming with pep and half-shouted vocal cheers, We Are Beautiful is definitely an album that will not disappoint die-hard fans, as it sounds pretty much like all of their other releases. Any longtime readers of Pop Apocalypse may remember that I was a bit disappointed with Hold On Now, Youngster after having fallen in love with LC!'s EP, Sticking Fingers Into Sockets, in summer 2007. Thankfully We Are Beautiful is a bit less obnoxious than Youngster was, which is probably due to the fact that it's ten minutes shorter. Perhaps it's just me, but over thirty minutes of LC!'s high-pitched twee shrieks and caffeinated pop is a bit too much to stomach all at once. I think their music functions better at EP length, but anyway. We Are Beautiful is certainly a worthwhile download for all LC! fans and hopefully it will encourage non-fans to give these kids another chance this time around.

DOWNLOAD: Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed [Wichita]
Recommended Tracks: "Ways To Make It Through The Wall," "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed," "You'll Need Those Fingers For Crossing," "All Your Kayfabe Friends."