Reviews

Camera Obscura

Let's Get Out Of This Country

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Review Date: 2006-06-05

Let's Get Out Of This Country is Camera Obscura's soon to be released (June 6) third full-length, and their second release on Merge Records. The Scottish six-piece is a band that I have heard buzz and read good reviews about, and the few songs that I had heard prior to being sent the new album intrigued me; but this, however, is my first thorough analysis of the band.

Originally, my intention was to outsource this review to Terri (who usually is more responsive to the soft indie-pop with lead female vocals), but I changed my mind. It didn't take long, either. From the second I pressed play and "Lloyd I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken" began, I knew that I was going to claim the album to review. It's described in the press kit as possibly "just being the most clever and catchy song that Tracyanne Campbell has yet written; and that's saying something!!" Arguably that's one too many exclamation points, but that is nitpicking. This is an infectious-yet-beautiful way to open the album, and it demands you stick around to hear the nine songs that follow.

Let's Get Out Of This Country is made up of a medley of influences. Of course, if you want a quick and dirty description you can just call it indie-pop, but if you look deeper you'll hear a strong influence of 50s music (in particular female-fronted 50s music). As well, the disc has a really theatrical element at times, something similar to what Sondre Lerche does but so much better than he attempts to do it on the most recent record. It's catchy but not in that way that a few weeks later you aren't sure what you're thinking. It is the type of indie-pop that resonates and leaves a last mark on you as the listener.

All of the above influences are in display on "Come Back Margaret," a song that could have easily been released in the fifties. The opening to the song is quintessential retro, and the backdrop to the music utilizes the theatrical or orchestral style that I mentioned. It is awfully bold for an indie-pop song, since that genre is often littered with rather basic tracks. Tracyanne Campbell's whimsical voice is a great match with all that is going on here, and even the unexpected handclaps click.

The title track is another winner and has just a dash of country influence worked in. Campbell has a remarkably versatile voice and has made a believer out of me with this album. I hate to slight the rest of the band -- and I feel like I am doing -- but it is a six-piece so the remaining five members do a great job as a collective, and that isn't a bad thing. Lyrically, the song is easy to relate to. It is about the dilemma that many of us face when we are constantly complaining about where we are living, and yet we never have the courage to take some action and leave.

"Country Mile" and "If Looks Could Kill" are curiously placed next to each other. The former lulls you into a gentle sense of calm as you listen to the very whimsical voice of Campbell and not a lot of else, and then "If Looks Could Kill" kicks in with the most rockin' track on the album by far. The latter actually has a much more profound effect on the listener following up the brief lull, and lyrically the songs do make sense to follow each other. At first "Country Mile" is about the frustration in not seeing your significant other for a while, and then something happens or that frustration boils and over and "If Looks Could Kill" is ready to take some action.

Not all ten of these tracks are as gripping as the five that I mentioned, but the album really flows well as a whole and immediately jumps to the forefront of the notable indie-pop releases of 2006. Camera Obscura's last album Underachievers Please Try Harder and the relentless American touring that followed began the process of North America taking note of this very talented band, and I am pretty confident Let's Get Out Of This Country will cement it.

Songs to Hear: "Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken," "Come Back Margaret," "Let's Get Out Of This Country," "Country Mile," "If Looks Could Kill"

Score: 8.2

- Dan