TV en Français
A photo taken from beside some sort of apartment complex. The words "TV EN FRANCAIS" are inscribed on the side of a balcony. A pink "We Are Scientists" logo is located in the bottom left with the subtext "The expensive new album".
Studio album by
We Are Scientists
ReleasedMarch 3, 2014
Recorded2013
GenreIndie rock
Length34:30
Label
ProducerChris Coady
We Are Scientists chronology
Barbara
(2010)		 TV en Français
(2014)		 Helter Seltzer
(2016)
Singles from TV en Français
  1. "Return the Favor"
    Released: October 14, 2013
  2. "Dumb Luck"
    Released: October 14, 2013
  3. "Make it Easy"
    Released: January 13, 2014
  4. "Sprinkles"
    Released: April 24, 2014

TV en Français is the fourth studio album by the indie rock band, We Are Scientists. The album was released on March 3, 2014, through 100% Records and Dine Alone Records. It features guest appearances by Tim Wheeler and Rose Elinor Dougall.[1] The album charted at #36 in the UK Albums Chart and #5 in the Indie Chart in the week of its release.

Recording and production

A new album was first teased by the band at The Isle of Wight Festival 2011, where Murray suggested the band would be recording in Autumn that year.[2] It was in 2012 that the band actually began recording new material, working with producer Chris Coady in New York City, where both Keith Murray & Chris Cain reside.[3] The band worked in a number of New York studios, predominately The Magic Shop, DNA Studio and Ash's home studio Atomic Heart. In December 2012 that drummer Andy Burrows confirmed that they had finished work on their new album, with intent to release in early 2013.[4]

In January 2014, the band announced that the album would finally be released on March 3, 2014, through 100% Records and would be titled TV en Français.[5] Accompanying the album announcement was the music video for new single "Dumb Luck."[6] Soon after the announcement the band revealed another new track titled "Make it Easy," which was made available to download to those who pre-ordered the album.[7] The band appeared for a third time on The Late Show with David Letterman on May 21, 2015, performing single "Make It Easy."[8]

Release and promotion

Due to the fact the band had recorded without a record label, and had also fired their management after Barbara the band then spent a lot of 2013 label shopping and looking for new management.[9] Realising they would be unable to put the album out that year, the band released a two-track single featuring the songs "Something About You" and "Let Me Win." The single was released through their own record label Master Swan Records and Neon Gold Records on July 16.[10] New material was further previewed across a string of UK tour dates in July.[11] Eventually the band signed to release the finished album with 100% Records, putting out a teaser EP titled Business Casual on October 14, 2013.[12] The EP includes lead singles "Return the Favor" and "Dumb Luck" along with album off cut "Good Answer," a demo of new track "Courage" and a cover of Berlin's "Take My Breath Away" - which features occasional scientist Max Hart on pedal-steel guitar.[13] Andy Burrows had recorded drums for the album and subsequent EP and singles, but by the time the band were eventually able to release and tour, Burrows was busy with his solo career. This led to Keith Carne taking over the majority of live commitments, with Burrows stepping in for occasional dates, depending on his availability.[9][14]

Singles

"Something About You"/"Let Me Win" was the first material from the album sessions, although the tracks only appear on the bonus disc of the finished album. "Something About You" premiered on July 10, 2013, with "Let Me Win" premiering a week later.[15] The tracks made up a split 7-inch vinyl release through the band's own label Masterswan Records and Neon Gold Records and were released on July 16, 2013.

"Return the Favor" was first premiered on September 20, 2013, in a music video directed by their frequent collaborator, Dan Monick.[16] The track would feature as part of an EP release, titled Business Casual released before the album on October 14, 2013.

"Dumb Luck" premiered on October 7, 2013, through Clash before its release as part of the Business Casual EP on October 14. The music video premiered later on January 13, 2014, and was directed by Noah Conopask.

"Make it Easy" was released as a single January 13, 2014, through digital music stores, and additionally made available to anyone who preordered the album. The music video premiered on May 20, 2014, and was directed by Melissa Tomjanovich. Tim Wheeler and We Are Scientists drummers Keith Carne and Danny Allen all feature as the videos masked aliens. The following day the band made a third appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman performing the track.[17]

A music video for "Sprinkles" was premiered through Stereogum on April 24, 2014. The video was directed by James Perou.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Alternative Press[18]

At Alternative Press, Jason Schreurs rated the album three-and-a-half stars out of five, saying that "With some pop, college rock, post-punk and even shoegaze thrown in for good measure, TV En Francais is the most complete We Are Scientists record."[18]

The album entered the UK Chart at #36.[19]

Track listing

All music is composed by We Are Scientists

No.TitleLength
1."What You Do Best"3:21
2."Dumb Luck"3:14
3."Make It Easy"4:29
4."Sprinkles"3:47
5."Courage"2:28
6."Overreacting"3:36
7."Return the Favor"3:14
8."Slow Down"3:25
9."Don't Blow It"3:54
10."Take an Arrow"3:39
Total length:34:30
Bonus disk
No.TitleLength
1."Something About You"3:20
2."Let Me Win"4:52
3."Good Answer"3:41
4."Take My Breath Away"5:30

Personnel

We Are Scientists
Session musicians
Technical personnel
Design
  • Dan Monick - art direction/photography
  • Dylan Haley - art direction/package design

References

  1. ↑ "Contact" Contact Music article announcing the release-date and track-listing. Accessed March 4, 2014.
  2. ↑ "We Are Scientists confirm new album details at Isle Of Wight Festival". nme.com. NME. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  3. ↑ "WE ARE SCIENTISTS ARE RECORDING 'THE BEST WE ARE SCIENTISTS SONGS EVER'". diymag.com. DIY Magazine. 16 September 2012. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Burrows, Andy (20 December 2012). "back in lovely London". Twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved 8 June 2015. back in lovely London. Listening to brand new @scientistbros album. It is our best. It's awesome. I am so excited about it. YESSS!!
  5. ↑ "WE ARE SCIENTISTS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM, 'TV EN FRANÇAIS'". diymag.com. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "HERE'S WE ARE SCIENTISTS VIDEO FOR "DUMB LUCK"". noisey.vice.com. Vice Magazine. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "LISTEN: WE ARE SCIENTISTS UNVEIL 'MAKE IT EASY' SINGLE". diymag.com. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "WE ARE SCIENTISTS 'MAKE IT EASY' ON LETTERMAN". www2.fender.com. Fender. 22 May 2015. Archived from the original on 9 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  9. 1 2 Chase, Ted (25 February 2014). "KEITH MURRAY OF WE ARE SCIENTISTS". qromag.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  10. ↑ "LISTEN: WE ARE SCIENTISTS' NEW TRACK 'SOMETHING ABOUT YOU'". gigwise.com. Gigwise. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  11. ↑ "New U.K. Tour! July! Why Would We Lie??". wearescientists.com. We Are Scientists. 23 April 2013. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  12. ↑ "We Are Scientists announce Business Casual EP, share "Return the Favor"". consequence.net. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  13. ↑ "Song Premiere: We Are Scientists - "Take My Breath Away"". pastemagazine.com. 10 October 2013. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  14. ↑ "We Are Scientists AMA". Reddit/interviewly.com. interviewly.com. January 2014. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  15. ↑ "LISTEN: WE ARE SCIENTISTS' NEW TRACK 'SOMETHING ABOUT YOU'". gigwise.com. Gigwise. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  16. ↑ "THE BUSINESS CASUAL EP". Archived from the original on 9 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  17. ↑ "We're on the David Letterman TV Show tonight!". 21 May 2014. Archived from the original on 9 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  18. 1 2 Schreurs, Jason (2014). "We Are Scientists – TV En Francais". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine. April 2014 (309): 94. ISSN 1065-1667.
  19. ↑ "OFFICIAL ALBUMS CHART: TV En Francais". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
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