We Are Scientists enter the 'Megaplex'

photo: Ted Leather

We Are Scientists, the Brooklyn, New York-based power pop troupe, are set to return with their sixth album. It is titled Megaplex and released via 100% Records on April 27 by the duo, Keith Murray (guitar/vocals) and Chris Cain (bass).

“In the past we’ve used our music to educate, to enlighten, to awaken people to the depth and complexity of moral concerns. This time, we really wanted to drop a fun-bomb. Something to dance or f*** to,” states Chris and Megaplex achieves just that. Recorded at Tim Wheeler from Ash’s Atomic Heart Studios in NYC and once again produced by Max Hart (ex-Katy Perry), the duo set about honing down a sprawling burst of creativity to make the concise pop beast that is Megaplex.

Album opener and first single "One In, One Out' introduces fans to a new era of We Are Scientists, with its hook-laden indie-electro leanings and ultramodern visuals directed by Jed Mitchell. “When Jed explained the VR aspect to us,” says Keith, “we thought it was going to be our chance to step outside of our corporeal bondage, to enter a world where natural laws have no place, where our abilities would be unchecked by physics or even by morality, where we could live like gods and wantonly slake our every unholy thirst. Turns out, he just wanted us to perform our song, which was fun, too.”

"At this point in our career, we’ve written so many songs,” explains Keith. “The pool for this record alone was something like 90 songs deep — that we know exactly what we want out of a We Are Scientists record. We want it to be taut, to bang hard, to have a big hook every four seconds or so. We don’t have to be precious about which songs make it onto a record; we can listen to the ones that didn’t make it at home, on our own time. Megaplex is just the ten most delicious songs that we have — a stacked-up compound of entertainment."

"It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of honing of craft to make it to six records,” continues Keith. “ I mean, the Velvet Underground never made six albums. The Smiths didn’t. Pavement, Guns N’ Roses, The Stooges — none of them could do it. So, I guess we’re just objectively better than those bands now? It’s just a mathematical fact, right? Van Halen made six with David Lee Roth but only four with Sammy Hagar, so I guess we’re better than Hagar-era Van Halen but only just as good as Roth-era? Which, saying it out loud, makes total sense, yeah."

“Our brilliant work in pop song writing is unsurpassed,” summarizes Keith. “And will probably make the We Are Scientists name live beyond eternity.”

Track Listing:

One In, One Out
Notes In A Bottle
Heart Is A Weapon
Your Light Has Changed
KIT
No Wait at Five Leaves
Not Another Word
Now or Never
You Failed
Properties of Perception

Tour dates:

June 13 Boston, MA Sonia Friday, Feb. 9 @ 10 AM Local 
June 14 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda's Friday, Feb. 9 @ 10 AM Local 
June 15 Dover, MD Firefly Music Festival Friday, Feb. 9 @ 10 AM Local 
June 16 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom Friday, Feb. 9 @ 12 PM Local 
June 18 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern Friday, Feb. 9 @ 10 AM Local 
June 19 Pittsburgh, PA The Funhouse at Mr. Smalls Friday, Feb. 9 @ 10 AM Local 
June 20 Columbus, OH Rumba Cafe Friday, Feb. 9 @ 10 AM Local 
June 21 Indianapolis, IN The Hi-Fi Friday, Feb. 9 @ 10 AM Local 
June 22 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle Friday, Feb. 9 @ 10 AM Local 
June 23 Cincinnati, OH MOTR Pub Friday, Feb. 9 @ 10 AM Local 
June 25 Richmond, VA The Camel Friday, Feb. 9 @ 10 AM Local 
June 26 Washington, DC Rock & Roll Hotel Friday, Feb. 9 @ 10 AM Local