Music
Hello Sadness
The first couple of records from these Welsh indie rockers were full of orchestral, ADD twee-punk, like Belle and Sebastian on a Ramones jag. But 2010’s Romance Is Boring showed a restraint and musical muscle they continue to display on Disc Four. One thing remains constant: Gareth Campesinos’ Anthony Michael Hall level of sexual frustration. He provides as many squirm-worthy scenarios as he does grandiose pop buildups and violin-laden hooks. On “By Your Hand,” a girl pukes on his rental tux mid-hookup, and on “The Black Bird, The Dark Slope,” blackbirds feast on his insides. His romantic failure makes for fine songs – now if only he could get laid.
Listen to “Songs About Your Girlfriend”: