We Are Scientists is an American indie rock band featuring Keith Murray (guitar and lead vocals), Chris Cain (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Michael Tapper (drums and backing vocals). They formed in 2000.
We Are Scientists | |
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| File:Twas!.jpg | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Claremont, California, United States |
| Years active | 2000 - present |
| Members | Keith Murray Chris Cain Michael Tapper |
In their own words, they create "rock music of the thoughtful, sometimes epic, often loud, vaguely danceable, implicitly humanist variety".
History
The band formed while its members attended the Claremont Colleges. Keith Murray and Chris Cain attended Pomona College; Michael Tapper attended Harvey Mudd College. The trio frequently perform free shows at the Colleges.
The band has released four self-made EPs - Safety, Fun and Learning (in that Order), Bitchin', Inaction, and The Wolf's Hour - and released their debut LP, With Love And Squalor on EMI/Virgin Records. The first three singles are "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt", "The Great Escape" and "It's a Hit", though allegedly videos have been made for every song on the album, as multiple unreleased and alternate videos have been leaked onto video websites.
In 2006, We Are Scientists began touring with Arctic Monkeys, Maxïmo Park and Mystery Jets as part of the NME Shockwaves Tour.
Their music videos comprise of surreal situations, such as the band being chased by a man in a grizzly bear costume ("Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt"), having boxing matches ("It's a Hit"), and the three being seemingly connected at the hip throughout an entire day's activities ("The Great Escape"). Three of the videos are directed by Akiva Schaffer.
The band performed "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt" on the December 19, 2005 episode of the Late Show with David Letterman, and "It's a Hit" on the March 14, 2006 episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Throughout February 2006, "The Great Escape" was heard in a commercial for the 2006 Winter Olympics and on another commercial advertising BBC Radio stations.
Discography
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Safety, Fun, and Learning (in that Order) (April 2002) (Self-released)
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Bitchin' (October 2002) (Self-released)
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In Action (October 2003) (Self-released)
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The Wolf's Hour (December 18, 2004) (Self-released)
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With Love and Squalor (October 17, 2005 [UK])
(January 10, 2006 [USA])#43 UK
![With Love and Squalor(October 17, 2005 [UK]) (January 10, 2006 [USA]) #43 UK](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Upload?wpDestFile=With-love-and-squalor.jpg){kind=link}
UK singles
- Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt (27/6/2005) #56 UK
- The Great Escape (3/10/2005) #37 UK
- It's A Hit (20/2/2006) #29 UK
- Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt [Re-release] (1/5/2006) #21 UK #41 UK Download Chart
Singles
Trivia
- Their name was inspired by an awkward conversation with a U-Haul employee who was inspecting a van that the band had rented. The U-haul employee, attempting to make polite conversation, asked the three bespectled ectomorphs if they were scientists. They told him that they were musicians, not scientists. To this day they regret it and "...kind of wish we had just lied and gone on a riff about our work in nanotech."
- The band is well known for its website, wearescientists.com. It features an advice column, reviews of random objects, and other humorous articles. The site also has the more traditional features of a band website--discography, merchandise, and a messageboard.
- The band performed an acoustic cover of Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros in the Live Lounge for Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 1.
- The band obtained the Xpression FM number one single on 8th May 2006 with Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt.
- "We are Scientists" is also a Cap'n Jazz song
- Their song "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt" was featured on the CSI: NY episode "Stuck On You." They have, in fact, seen the episode.
See also
External links
- Official website
- We Are Scientists on MySpace
- Highlight on MTVU
- We Are Scientists on All Music Guide
- Nebulize My Mind - A fansite dedicated to We Are Scientists, featuring news, mp3 downloads, and links to bands who are friends of the band.
- Beard of the Year - Article in which This Is Fake DIY awards Michael Tapper the 'Beard of the Year' accolade.
- We Are Scientists are Sagehens, too - Pomona College article about the band's roots.
- We Are Scientists Interview on Die Klangschau
- The Leadmill Review in Sheffield
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | US Hot 100 | US Modern Rock | |||
| 2005 | "Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt" | #56 | - | - | "With love and Squalor" |
| 2005 | "The Great Escape(What a song)" | #37 | - | - | "With Love And Squalor" |
| 2006 | "It’s A Hit" | #29 | - | - | "With Love And Squalor |
| 2004 | "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt (reissue)" | #21 | - | #41 | "With Love And Squalor" |
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