Scientists but not yet masters

Brain Thrust Mastery

We Are Scientists

Virgin Records

Rocks like: Muse, Hot Hot… Brain Thrust Mastery

We Are Scientists

Virgin Records

Rocks like: Muse, Hot Hot Heat

Rating: C+

We Are Scientists’ sophomore release, Brain Thrust Mastery, holds up the high standards set by its debut, With Love And Squalor. Brain Thrust Mastery is the first album released without We Are Scientists’s longtime drummer, Michael Tapper, who left the band in November 2007. Remaining members Keith Murray and Chris Cain are still going strong and churning out their humorous, peppy rock that listeners have come to appreciate. With the addition of drummer Adam Aaronson and keyboardist/guitarist Max Hart on the new album, We Are Scientists is changing up its sound.

The band presents a compilation rich with the same danceable rock and super catchy tunes that were featured on its first album. There is bound to be some change album to album, though. For We Are Scientists, this comes in the form of more synth music added to the mix, resulting in a sound that can seem cluttered in comparison to the simple sounds of the past. The music is slightly different, but it is far from bad – the new musical elements only strengthen the band’s sound.

We Are Scientists brings together the elements of bands like Bloc Party and Muse, bands that feature synth-filled tracks and the peppy rock style heard on With Love and Squalor. The end result is a turned up version of We Are Scientists in Brain Thrust Mastery.

The band hits all the right notes with their new release, featuring songs that mirror those in With Love And Squalor like “Let’s See It,” alongside new, synth-heavy tracks like “Chick Lit” and retro-style songs like “That’s What Counts” to even things out.

Brain Thrust Mastery shows a side of We Are Scientists that is comfortable in its musical style but still thinking and evolving enough not to release an exact copy of its first album.

Nothing is worse than a band that never evolves. Now fans can choose a We Are Scientists to fit their every mood. For the disgruntled fans, there is the energetic dance rock of With Love And Squalor. For those willing to change with the band, there is the electronic synth-rock of Brain Thrust Mastery. With that fan crisis averted, all is well in the world, and all is well with We Are Scientists and Brain Thrust Mastery.