Los Campesinos! – Hold On Now, Youngster…

Los Campesinos! are a 7 piece outfit from Cardiff, Wales who are releasing their first full length Hold On Now, Youngster… on Arts And Crafts here in North America on April 1st. (digital download available this week via Wichita Records February 25th)

I guess the most obvious comparison for Los Campesinos! would be to Tilly And The Wall (minus the tap dancing). They are fun, they scream, they shout, they’re cute and when the mood hits them, they break out the xylophone to kick you in the junk. The entire CD has a somewhat loose chaotic feel to it, which is likely due to the production tactics of David Newfield of Broken Social Scene fame.

They say you should write about what you know about and it is obvious that these kids know about academia. Lyrically, the whole CD has an academic theme running through it which serves a nice backdrop and context for all the songs which happen to be about being young, being silly, forming relationships and of course, dancing.

The pre-summer release date for Hold On Now, Youngster… (April 1st) makes this a must have for the 2008 summer solstics. Whether you are driving to the beach, hangning by a camp fire or stuck in traffic trying to get to one of the previous two locations, you’ll want to have some Los Campesinos! handy to put you in the mood for getting naked. The Panic Manual does not endorse driving naked.

Track by track review of Hold On Now, Youngster… after the jump

#1 Death To Los Campesinos!
Los Campesinos! kick off the album the right way by calling for their immediate death. No wait, that’s not I mean. This song is so catchy, I predict that it will be bought by the CBC to be used as the intro music to the new Rex Muphy reality TV show that starts in September. See The New Pornographers – The Hour and The Stars – This Is Wonderland.

#2 Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats
One of the catchiest tracks on the record. The Ba ba ba la ba ba ba la ba ba in the middle is perfectly timed. The subtle handclaps and rocking guitar during the chorus really work in the head boppin’ department.

#3 Don’t Tell Me To Do The Math(s)
I don’t think that the title is grammatically correct. Whatever. The lead female vocal has a sweet, charming voice that will remind you of a 23 year old whispering librarian who you want to date but can’t becase she is a librarian and way cooler than you.

Tonight we’re going to smash this place up
And then we’re going to deck it out with fairy lights
Until we are content

And then we’ll maybe drown in dewy decimals
But leave our shoes outside the door.
That was the point.

I don’t know what this song means.

#4 Drop It Doe Eyes
This is one of those chaotic songs that I mentioned in the intro. Lots of talk about skeletons and deer and shape shifting and other stuff. Really great xylophone to start it all off to get you interested.

#5 My Year In Lists
You said
Send me stationary to make me horny
So I always write you letters in multicolor
Decorating envelopes for foreplay…
…stomping on your fingers as you cling onto the abyss
…I cherished the fondness the day before I met you

I’m going to take a stab at this one. This song tells the story of a really nice guy who is dating a super cute, high maintenance girl. The guy did everything the girl asked, so much so that she started taking advantage of his innocence and affection for her. She totally lost any respect that she might have had for him. She continued to date him while she made fun of him to her girlfriends behind his back. Then on New Years, he finally had enough and stood up to her and for the first time said “No” to her. She threw a hissy fit in front of all their friends and sulked.

Throughout the entire song there are these female vocals attempting to scream over top the male vocals which give me the impression of a girl constantly beating down any ounce of independence that this poor guy has left.

#6 Knee Deep At ATP
Take your pick. HERE

#7 This Is How You Spell “Hahaha, We Destroyed The Hopes And Dreams Of A Generation Of Faux-Romantics
This song has a long title. The cheerleading group chants really get me going. If you see them perform this song live, this is the song where the crowd is going to be singing along with the band because the title make up half of the songs lyrics.

#8 We Are All Accelerated Readers
Here is another one of those education references. I like this song based on the title. One of the slower songs on the CD.

And I’m not Bonnie Tyler
And I’m not Toni Braxton
And this song is not going to save your relationship.
Oh no shit.

And this sentimental movie marathon has taught us one thing
It’s the opposite of true love is as follows:
We love it here

(group chant) Since we became accelerated readers
We never leave the house.

Why would you leave the house? Get a library card and try to pick up that cut librarian you keep going back to see. I bet she’s into accelerated readers.

#9 You!Me!Dancing!
In the Top 100 of 2007 list from Rolling Stone Magazine, this track clocked in at #72, right ahead of “100 Days, 100 Nights” by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, and right after “Impossible Germany” by Wilco. That’s some good company.

It’s you. It’s me. And there’s dancing.

It is all becoming very clear. Yes! Lets dance! When did things get so complicated? Grownups suck. Lets clap our hands and dance around on top of the cloths on the floor in our bedrooms. I can’t say that this song will solve all of life’s little problems, but it’s probably a good place to start.

…And We Exhale And Roll Our Eyes in Unison
…and I exhale and keep going.

Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks
When the smaller picture is the same as the bigger picture, you know that you’re fucked

True, oh so very true.

(2007) The Year Punk Rock Broke (My Heart)
Bring out the strings. Can you do that plucking thing for a bit? Hey you. Yah, you over there. Do one of those slow rocking builds that works so well for the Arcade Fire. Who’s in charge of lyrics? I want to hear the word “Walkman” in there somewhere to give us some retro-cred. Yes, yes…I think we have it. It’s a wrap.

About Wade

Transplanted east coaster now in Toronto. Lover of Canadian music and comedy