Los Campesinos magnificently prove that youth
isn't always wasted on the young: We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed is the British band's
second album this year, following up the unstoppably energetic, endlessly
entertaining Hold On Now Youngster. Unsurprisingly, it's mostly more of the
same—which in this case is a high compliment. The two releases will
inevitably be compared, and the edge goes to Youngster, but just barely. Beautiful is the product of
sessions with producer John Goodmanson (Sleater-Kinney, Blonde Redhead) that
were aiming to get some good B-sides together, but clearly the songs and more
muscular recording couldn't be relegated to that fate; instead, they're being
released as a limited-edition deluxe CD/DVD/badge/booklet set—charmingly
perfect for a band obsessed with K Records' twee-yet-rough-edged DIY style.