As evidenced by both their music and exclamatory band name, the seven members of Cardiff, Wales’ Los Campesinos! are excitable boys and girls. The group’s third album, Romance Is Boring (Arts & Crafts), is an energetic, all-hands-on-deck dash through the pantheon of sharp indie pop and sloppy post-punk, gathering steam from Bright Eyes’ sense of emotional catharsis and Art Brut’s wry take on modern love. Try to gather all the influences brought to bear on Romance Is Boring by LC!’s seven-member army, however, and we’d be here all day. MAGNET spoke to songwriter Tom Campesinos! and guitarist Neil Campesinos!—all members (Tom, Neil, Ellen, Gareth, Harriet, Ollie and Kim) have taken the band’s surname—about the new album. Los Campesinos! will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with them.
Ellen: I bloody love musicals. There is a wonderful kind of escapism within the melodramatic concerto of people singing about every single feeling they find themselves experiencing. I think life should be like this. Anyhow, this Victor Hugo novel brought to life has everything you would want in a classical musical. Les Misérables has politics, love, religion, rebellion and French prostitution. The songs are goose-bump-inducing, and seeing it live makes you feel lazy (live orchestra with a gong!) and in awe at the sets and costumes and meticulous detail they have stretched to for your viewing pleasure. I find myself listening to the songs out of context when we are on tour, and I love it. I think I know all the words. I do know all the words. Video after the jump.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6-5g78Nr6Q
