Romance Is Boring

Rate It! Avg: 4.0 (283 ratings)
ALBUM INFORMATION

Total Tracks: 15   Total Length: 48:30

eMusic Review

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Dan Weiss

eMusic Contributor

01.26.10
Another bubbly yet full-bodied orchestral pop triumph from the biggest twee band going
2010 | Label: Arts & Crafts / IODA

No description of Los Campesinos! could be as fitting as the New Pornographers' song title "Testament to Youth in Verse." The exuberance of this Welsh seven-piece is such that they've evolved from blog-hopping one-song-buzzers ("You! Me! Dancing!" off a sugar-rush EP that still remains the finest way to gulp their ADHD aesthetic), to the artisans behind three orchestral full-lengths in just three years. Most importantly, their exciting, multi-layered music (violin, glockenspiel, trombone, ba-bas) skirts twee with energy and counters the adolescent melodrama they pretend with wit and empathy.

So it's a testament to youth in verse that their third, slowest record is yet another great one. The dissonant, minor-key bridges they've just discovered are a wonderful out from the constancy of their needlepoint melodies, gearing you back up for another shout about buried feelings or banal romance or spiteful diary pages. They've toned down the glockenspiel just as you were getting sick of it. And the ambitious, whistle-hooked "The Sea Is a Good Place to Think of the Future" justifies their new propensity for crawling epics with yarns like "You could never kiss a Tory boy/ Without wanting to cut off your tongue again."

Not that they've run out of anthems yet… read more »

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LC!

drz

Best record of 2010.

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Best record yet

kyletheemperor

Another wonderful record by an awesome band. Not as morbidly depressing as "We are Beautiful" but more focused and mature than "Hold on now." I need to see these guys live and soon. Probably one my top 5 for the year. Also, Alex Campesinos! recorded on this album. I don't know why you guys are worried about their sound changing on this record because of her departure.

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Truly outstanding!

trytobemorealive

This is a thoughtfully written and well executed album that is poignant and entertaining and really exciting in a way a lot of bands are afraid to be. There's humour and alienation and Big Questions being asked (is god dead? can love conquer all?) but it's all wrapped in super-fast, super-catchy music with lots of guitars, violins, keyboards and horns. Think Belle & Sebastian influenced by Husker Du. I'm going to wager this as the best of 2010.

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Romance is Boring...

DJM2

but not as boring as this record...elitist indie crap.

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Anything but Boring!

kevnchgo

This album has been in my constant rotation since I got it. If you enjoy LC!'s first two albums, this will make you very happy - in spite of the rather bleak subject matter. LC! has a knack for infusing humor into depressing topics, and that theme continues on Romance is Boring. "Listed Buildings", "Romance is Boring" and "Straight In at 101" are my early standouts. A few tracks are merely bridges from one song to the next, but the setups are worth the wait. Another strong showing from from these UK kids.

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eh.

ernie-c

unfortunately, the departure of somebody in the band did not fix the hyper guy's nasal voice.

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Simply Amazing!

EMUSIC-02276BEB

I must say i was quite upset when i heard in '09 that Aleks Campesinos! had left the band. Since she left i had low expectations for their new album and thought that i wouldn't be able to compare it to the others. Wow i couldn't believe how wrong i was when i heard this album. It's perfect with the wonderful melody's over typical punk rock chords over soft violin and over all that Gareth's amazing/sarcastic/medophoric lyrics that make you smile. This album is a definite 5/5-TheIndiePirate

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They Say All Media Guide

Los Campesinos! third album 2010’s Romance is Boring aims to be an amalgamation of their first two records, blending the headlong rush of energy that was Hold On Now, Youngsters…. with the thoughtful moodiness of the difficult second album We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed. The title track, with it’s hooky sing-along chorus, is the albums highlight, though there are a few others that challenge for the spot. – Tim Sendra

Activity

  • 02.11.12 It's supposed to be the band that have the ego, not the journalists... http://t.co/EzAlshQf
  • 02.11.12 San Francisco : Great American Music Hall : Music kicks off at 9. Some tickets left on door. Gonna be GOOD.
  • 02.10.12 SAN FRANCISCO tonight at GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL. ALL AGES show with @pgrrrls. Bring Valentine's. Who's in?
  • 02.09.12 Found ourselves at Sassy's strip club in PDX last night, and the dancers were getting down to @theweekndxo. It's what he would have wanted.
  • 02.09.12 PORTLAND. Night 2 of 2 this evening with @pgrrrls at Doug Fir Lounge.
  • 02.07.12 After a week's absence, we are reunited with @pgrrrls today at DOUG FIR LOUNGE in PORTLAND. Who's in?
  • 02.07.12 I'm sorry Bellingham, that was wonderful but we cannot stay, there are other cities, other states that need Los Campesinos!.
  • 02.06.12 BELLINGHAM tonight at @WildBuffalo, alongside @keatonco and @itslearningteam. THREE BAND BILL, kicking off 8:45. Who's in?
  • 02.05.12 Had such a good time hanging out with @CodyVotolato and @Gibbstack last night. Thanks for always being so kind to us, Seattle.
  • 02.05.12 #LC!4LYF
  • 02.05.12 So, tonight we recorded a live album...except the fucking recording rig fucked up and so we didn't record a live album. It's the LC! way.
  • 02.05.12 The bar for tonight's show is being set very high by @kithkinband. Ready to limbo. http://t.co/mrMBsMWh
  • 02.05.12 SEATTLE. Come on down to Neptune Theater tonight. Some tickets still available on the door.
  • 02.04.12 Every hot chick you put on the guestlist after meeting in a coffee shop/record shop will bring her BOYFRIEND as her +1 #thingswelearnontour
  • 02.04.12 Do any of you guys coming to the show tonight have FLIP CAMS/A FLIP CAM you could bring along to record some shit tonight? #seattle
  • 02.04.12 ALSO, tonight's show is being RECORDED for 'future use' so make sure you all clap loads even if you're not having a good time, please.
  • 02.04.12 TONIGHT we play NEPTUNE THEATRE in SEATTLE, accompanied by @kithkinband. Music kicking off around 9. Who's in?
  • 02.03.12 #ff Us & our peeps @kimmylittle @ellenstarbuck @banginboobs @neilbeale @sparkydeathcap @EmmaBlowgun @grthdvd @turnstilemusic @wichitarecs
  • 02.03.12 Can't believe our shitty little band's playing a sold-out show in Vancouver, Canada. What a strange world!
  • 02.03.12 We are on our way to VANCOUVER for our SOLD OUT show tonight at ELECTRIC OWL. Can @turnstilemusic confirm it will be 'vibey'? Who's in?