"Restraint" and "reserve" are two words that are simply not found in the vocabulary of the supercharged septet from Cardiff, Wales that comprises Los Campesinos! The lack of musical modesty, however, is nothing to be scorned. With a signature brand of aggressive tweepop, the band effortlessly juxtaposes punk rock's irreverence with the syrupy sweetness of indie rock. Both wordy and sharp, Hold On Now, Youngster is an album that spills cute-yet-caustic lyrics, showcasing the wonderful dynamics of its dual male/female vocalists. With obvious British, post-punk influence, all 12 tracks are guitar-heavy, yet spliced colorfully with upbeat keyboard riffs that will without a doubt distinguish Los Campesinos! as a fun and talented band, sure to sweep anyone off their feet.

Review by Kelsey McArdle

Posted Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 at 12:24 pm and is filed under Reviews. The opinions expressed in music reviews are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of WIUX or any of its other volunteers.