Los Campesinos!

Hold on Now, Youngster … (Arts & Crafts)

“What the World Is Waiting For,” final segment of the Dennis Hopper-narrated seven-part series Seven Ages of Rock, traced Britpop from the Smiths to Oasis, sketching out a cycle of machine rebellion. Cardiff, Wales’ Los Campesinos! are revolting against modern UK bar rock (Arctic Monkeys, the Libertines), and debut Hold on Now, Youngster … toys with that apostasy. The seven pseudo-siblings who share the surname “Campesinos” ply über-British indie pop, replete with “Parklife” spoken word (on the verbose “This Is How You Spell ‘Hahaha, We Destroyed the Hopes and Dreams of a Generation of Faux-Romantics'”); boy-girl back-and-forth vocals; chaotic, cynical visions (“… And We Exhale and Roll Our Eyes in Unison”); and Canadian intonations (“Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks”). It might be one big, saccharine, catchy fuck-you to the industry and culture, but it’s really just addictive songwriting reared on Britpop pioneers who didn’t prioritize reputation over substance. (Saturday, March 15, Parish, 12mid.)

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This article appears in March 14 • 2008.

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