Romance Is Boring
Los Campesinos! · 2010
48 min · 15 tracks · indie pop
A whirlwind of jagged guitars and frenetic rhythms layered with introspective lyrics about love and disillusionment.
Top tracks — play these first
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In medias res — This opening track sets a frenetic tone with urgent instrumentation that mirrors the chaotic nature of modern love, capturing listeners immediately.
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Romance Is Boring — The title track encapsulates the album's central themes of disillusionment in romance, blending catchy hooks with sharp, self-deprecating lyrics.
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I Warned You: Do Not Make an Enemy of Me — With its intense energy and confrontational lyrics, this track showcases the band's ability to fuse personal angst with infectious melodies.
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The Sea Is a Good Place to Think of the Future — This reflective piece balances melancholy with hope, utilizing vivid imagery that enhances the album's exploration of uncertainty in relationships.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines energetic instrumentation with introspective lyrics, creating a distinctive indie pop sound.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a frenetic tone, followed by a series of songs that maintain high energy before slowing down in the latter half.
- Several tracks feature abrupt tempo changes, such as 'We've Got Your Back' which shifts from a driving rhythm to a more reflective pace.
- Lyrically, the album explores themes of love and disillusionment through conversational and introspective verses, often juxtaposed with upbeat instrumentation.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- short, punchy song bursts
- introspective lyrical exploration
- energetic yet reflective moods
- varied pacing throughout album
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — The album solidified their reputation and showcased ambitious thematic explorations.
- Themes
- modern love disillusionment· chaotic romance· reflective seaside imagery
- Career context
- Upon the release of 'Romance Is Boring', Los Campesinos! were transitioning from their breakthrough debut, 'Hold on Now, Youngster...', which had established them as a staple in indie pop. This sophomore album marked a significant artistic evolution, showcasing a more complex lyrical approach and sonic experimentation as they navigated the pressures of fame and personal relationships.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Pains of Being Pure at Heart· Tigers Jaw· Frightened Rabbit
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 In medias res 4:41
- 2 There Are Listed Buildings 2:54
- 3 Romance Is Boring 2:35
- 4 We've Got Your Back (Documented Minor Emotional Breakdown #2) 4:29
- 5 Plan A 2:02
- 6 200-102 0:53
- 7 Straight in at 101 3:55
- 8 Who Fell Asleep In 4:11
- 9 I Warned You: Do Not Make an Enemy of Me 2:47
- 10 Heart Swells/100-1 0:46
- 11 I Just Sighed. I Just Sighed, Just So You Know 4:38
- 12 A Heat Rash in the Shape of the Show Me State; Or, Letters From Me to Charlotte 3:43
- 13 The Sea Is a Good Place to Think of the Future 4:26
- 14 This Is a Flag. There Is No Wind 3:28
- 15 Coda: A Burn Scar in the Shape of the Sooner State 2:52
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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