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Lobes
by
Lobes Image
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: The eighth full-length release for indie rock band We Are Scientist was self-produced.
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  • Record Label: Masterswan Recordings
  • Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, New Wave/Post-Punk Revival
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. AllMusic
    Jan 27, 2023
    80
    It's that feeling of needing to get out of the house and away from your family, or perhaps yourself, that We Are Scientists distill with lab precision on Lobes.
  2. PopMatters
    Jan 27, 2023
    80
    Slowing things down has traditionally been a mixed bag for We Are Scientists, but the more relaxed tracks here are big successes.
  3. Clash Music
    Jan 27, 2023
    70
    Whilst ‘Lobes’ doesn’t reinvent the lobe shaped wheel, this is an effervescent funk-laden album which will certainly brighten up those dark January evenings thanks to its soaring choruses and memorable melodies.
  4. Pitchfork
    Jan 27, 2023
    60
    Pastiche is the entire point of Lobes. Maybe its period recreations provide some surface pleasures, but it’s not enough to erase the suspicion that We Are Scientists have turned into indie-rock journeymen, content to dabble in sounds and styles that have just fallen out of fashion.
  5. Uncut
    Feb 15, 2023
    60
    On "Operator Error" and "Less From You", the duo nimbly reintegrate the post-punk and power-pop elements of their mid-'00s selves with the more avidly dance-oriented direction of the band's last decade. [Apr 2023, p.38]
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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. On-earMusic
    Jan 31, 2023
    8
    Lobes is a nice continuation from some of the sounds found on Megaplex, doubling down on synth-pop while taking some risks that ultimately payLobes is a nice continuation from some of the sounds found on Megaplex, doubling down on synth-pop while taking some risks that ultimately pay off for long-time fans. The opener and first single Operator Error kicks things off with a thumping bass line and soaring vocals with a hook that is peak WaS catchy. Human Resources feels like a song that would play in a dimly lit night club, with reverb-soaked vocals, arpeggiated synths and a scuzzy panning picked bass. Some cuts slow things down, like Lucky Just to be Here, which feels like a tribute to U2, and the bass lead, auto-tuned Here Goes. The album ends strong with Miracle of ‘22, a sparkling acoustic guitar, driving bass, and an explosive chorus makes this one of the more layered tracks here and a catchy as hell refrain that keeps me coming back to this one and calling it the best on the album. While there isn't a skippable song on the album, Settled Accounts' build-up to the chorus doesn't quite hit the mark. Hearing the experimentation of tracks like Here Goes, Miracle, and Parachute, work so well makes me wish for more of the 35-minute runtime to consist of these sounds. At the same time, when We Are Scientists are nail a pop hook, few things can compare and there are more than enough ear worms in Lobes to keep new and existing fans happy.… Expand

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