There’s something about any We Are Scientists track that brings me back to driving to concerts in my cousin’s old Honda Civic during the summer in high school, blasting our local alt-rock radio station. It may have something to do with their feverish bass lines and unforgettable hooks that brings me to that same euphoric level, and their new album, Lobes, delivers the same energy.
Lobes is the alt-rock band’s eighth studio album, refining their sound and experimenting with a new, freer tone. Infused with harmonic synths and danceable hooks, this is truly an album that will stand out within We Are Scientists’ career.
Founded by Keith Murray and Chris Cain, We Are Scientists released their debut album With Love And Squalor in 2005, putting them on the charts for the first time, followed by many more hits over their career. You might have heard them playing at bars and across radio stations over the year, always recognizable by Cain’s pulsing bass lines or from Murray’s introspective and catchy lyricism. The duo has since graduated to a new level of their sound with Lobes.
The album kicks us off with a melodic intro to the first track, “Operational Error,” counting us down to a punchy start to the next 40 minutes. The song was the first released single from the album, and once I heard it back in October, I knew this album was going to deliver something that we haven’t heard from We Are Scientists yet.
The single is followed by “Dispense With Sentiment,” a moody track that sounds like it could be the opening song of a soundtrack for a sci-fi film. “Human Resources” is reminiscent of the older We Are Scientists songs that we’ve known for the past 20 years, but you can truly hear the duo’s evolution in this track.
“Lucky Just To Be Here” is the ultimate feel-good, carefree song that the album aimed to create—and the strongest track on the record. It creates the ultimate feel-good atmosphere with a transcendent breakdown halfway through the song and a chorus that sticks with you: “So what if there’s nothing left?/ Surely this is for the best/ I know I was lucky just to be here/ Everything we’ve done is past/ And even if this doesn’t last/ I know I was lucky just to be here.”
The following four tracks, “Turn It Up,” “Settled Accounts,” “Here Goes,” and “Parachute,” walk us through the rest of the album with an energetic groove. “Less From You,” sounds the truest to the duo’s older style but expands on their already dynamic tone. “Miracle Of 22” closes out the album with a final hard-hitting track, serving as the perfect finale to this spirited LP.
While the heavier use of synths in this album was a bright new addition to the typical We Are Scientists sound, we can still feel Cain’s familiar bass lines and Murray’s captivating lyricism—keeping true to their original sound while still allowing themselves to evolve as artists.
When I first listened to their previous album, Huffy, last year, I imagined myself dancing down the streets of LA or across the Brooklyn bridge at sunset in time with the bass. Lobes painted a different scene of New York at night where I imagined the skyline flickering to the tempo of the synths, making it the perfect follow-up and companion to Huffy.
Lobes is a new exploration for We Are Scientists, and they fully succeeded. We’ve heard We Are Scientists take on different forms while staying true to their roots over the years. From catapulting their career with the iconic and edgy With Love And Squalor to exploring synths and strings in recent albums like Brain Thrust Mastery and Megaplex, We Are Scientists have delved into a more electronic, carefree side of themselves with this incredible new album.
You can preorder the album here.
