The French Connection:
We Are Scientists infuse much needed energy into a narcoleptic post-punk wasteland
written by J. Poet
We Are Scientists—the duo of vocalist/guitarist Keith Murray and bassist/ vocalist Chris Cain—are known for the oblique humor and intelligence that they bring to their music, but a question about their sharp mental acuity produces gales of laughter.
“I don’t believe brains or wit are particularly helpful, or necessary, in pop music,” Murray says, still chuckling. “If we intended our appeal to be narrow and excessively insular, those qualities might be good for us, but nobody likes a smartass.”
“Pop is designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of the population,” says Cain. “It must, by definition, bridge a lot of intellectual and humorous demographics. You want to tap into the collective unconscious and channel it. A finicky intellectual approach probably isn’t productive. A small portion of the public may like you very well, but large numbers of people will be put off.”
Despite their protestations, the songs on the band’s new LP, TV En Français, are brimming over with wry humor and skewed insights into the state of modern romance.
“This is an album of love songs,” Cain says, explaining the record’s cryptic title. “But they’re more about how the communication, or lack thereof, affects the romantic part of a relationship. Two people can talk in a superficial way and miss a lot of the nuances you need to get along. It’s like watching a French TV program if you don’t speak French. You have an idea of what’s going on, but you’re missing important details when you don’t speak the same language. We’re also hoping [the title] will be helpful in getting us a couple of dates in France on our next tour.”
TV En Français was recorded with the help of producer Chris Coady (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio), who helped give the album a polished, expansive sound. “We spent months agonizing about turning the reins over to Chris,” says Cain. “The workhe does with bands like Grizzly Bear has a hyper cool attitude. We’re pretty damn cool, but we’re not hyper cool, so having him vibe so strongly with our songs was great.”
Throughout their long and checkered career, the Scientists have gained a sizable following in their home country, but they’re genuine rock stars in England and Europe.
“You can’t argue with good taste,” says Murray. “Radio [in Europe] is more expansive. They’re always interested in playing interesting, off-the-grid music. Not that we’re avant-garde or anything, but over there you can get on the radio even if you’re not on a major label.”
“I think [they like us] because it’s an older and more sophisticated musical culture,” says Cain. “They’ve honed their preferences over the centuries. America is like a three-year-old with an appreciation for everything, but lacking the ability to pay attention to anything for an extended period of time.”
“I don’t believe brains or wit are particularly helpful, or necessary, in pop music,” Murray says, still chuckling. “If we intended our appeal to be narrow and excessively insular, those qualities might be good for us, but nobody likes a smartass.”
“Pop is designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of the population,” says Cain. “It must, by definition, bridge a lot of intellectual and humorous demographics. You want to tap into the collective unconscious and channel it. A finicky intellectual approach probably isn’t productive. A small portion of the public may like you very well, but large numbers of people will be put off.”
Despite their protestations, the songs on the band’s new LP, TV En Français, are brimming over with wry humor and skewed insights into the state of modern romance.
“This is an album of love songs,” Cain says, explaining the record’s cryptic title. “But they’re more about how the communication, or lack thereof, affects the romantic part of a relationship. Two people can talk in a superficial way and miss a lot of the nuances you need to get along. It’s like watching a French TV program if you don’t speak French. You have an idea of what’s going on, but you’re missing important details when you don’t speak the same language. We’re also hoping [the title] will be helpful in getting us a couple of dates in France on our next tour.”
TV En Français was recorded with the help of producer Chris Coady (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio), who helped give the album a polished, expansive sound. “We spent months agonizing about turning the reins over to Chris,” says Cain. “The workhe does with bands like Grizzly Bear has a hyper cool attitude. We’re pretty damn cool, but we’re not hyper cool, so having him vibe so strongly with our songs was great.”
Throughout their long and checkered career, the Scientists have gained a sizable following in their home country, but they’re genuine rock stars in England and Europe.
“You can’t argue with good taste,” says Murray. “Radio [in Europe] is more expansive. They’re always interested in playing interesting, off-the-grid music. Not that we’re avant-garde or anything, but over there you can get on the radio even if you’re not on a major label.”
“I think [they like us] because it’s an older and more sophisticated musical culture,” says Cain. “They’ve honed their preferences over the centuries. America is like a three-year-old with an appreciation for everything, but lacking the ability to pay attention to anything for an extended period of time.”