February 8th, 2010 
James Shotwell 
Artist: Los Campesinos!
Album: Romance Is Boring
Genre: Indie Pop
Label: Arts & Crafts
Clashing mind-numbing instrumentals with sarcastic and emotionally prolific lyrics, Cardiff-based, indie-pop outfit, Los Campesinos!, set out to remind everyone how cruel the world and heartbreak can really be. Their first two releases left them with the twee-pop stamp that was once mocked but now embraced by many. However, on their newest work, Romance Is Boring, they are leaving the stigma behind. Releasing three albums in just under two years gave me an impression that they weren’t giving themselves enough time for growth, but suprisingly enough this is their most mature album to date. The use of melodramatic topics surrounding lost love, angst, death, sex, fighting, and hook-ups, Los Campesinos! are not only debunking their own theory that romance is, in fact, boring but also proving that their diversity makes their album anything but boring as well.
The opening track, “In Medias Res,” is a beautiful illustration of the range and textual intricacy they are capable of. “There Are Listed Buildings,” and title track, “Romance Is Boring,” revisit their catchy pop-punk vibe from their earlier albums and are sure to be crowd friendly with shout-along parts. Their trademark use of experimental dissonance adds to the troubling tune and is heard frequently throughout the album but it’s most apparent on the abrasive track, “Plan A.”
Vocalist Gareth, has a very humorous and bluntly honest way of expressing his thoughts through his lyrics. Sexually frustrated sucker punches like, “Feels like the build up takes forever but you never get me off,” heard on “Straight In At 101,” are used more often than not. His sarcastically direct lyrical approach often makes them more relatable to the average person. A couple songs later, “A Heat Rash In The Shape Of The Show Me State; Or Letters From Me To Charlotte,” is a compelling example of the dynamic use of orchestration by including violins, saxophones, and piano work.
Leaving the satirical, angst-ridden attitude behind, “This Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future,” offers an unexpected tender moment about repressed childhood memories that lead to depression and an eating disorder. The opening bars, incorporating somber guitars and beautifully moving violins, set the tone perfectly. The heart-wrenching line; “Sat at the sea, with the salt up to your ankles and a view of the end of the pier, you may look down at your model’s feet and wish that you’d just float away,” instills you with an overwhelming sense of despair. After feeling like you just had your heart forcibly removed, Los Campesinos!, decide to brighten up the mood with the following track, “This Is A Flag. There Is No Wind.” The first shouting line, “Can we all please calm the fuck down,” immediately welcomes you back into the cynical persona they’re known for. Closing the album with “Coda: A Burn Scar in the Shape of the Sooner State,” left us on sorrow note with the repeating heartsick line, “I can’t believe I chose the mountains every time you chose the sea.
Los Campesinos! use of screechy dissonance and sarcastically pessimistic lyrics aren’t for everyone but their sharp arrangements and chaotic orchestration set them apart. For being such a young band they have already cultivated their sound and matured, musically and emotionally. Romance Is Boring is an outstanding and extremely versatile album and I can only imagine where this growth will bring them in the future.
Score: 8.5/10
Written by: Nerissa Judd
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