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 bespectacled band members if they were brothers. They said no. He asked if they were scientists, as they looked like they could be the kind of people who wear lab coats. They told him that they were musicians, not scientists. To this day, they regret telling the truth. They are not named after the Cap'n Jazz song which bears the name.
They are a franchise of Art Rock band, Art Brut. In fact, they are Art Brut 47.
The band formed while its members attended the Claremont Colleges. Murray and Cain attended Pomona College; Michael Tapper attended Harvey Mudd College.
The band has released three self-made EPs (Bitching!, Safety, Fun, and Learning (In That Order) and In Action). Their debut LP, With Love And Squalor was on Virgin Records, the first three singles of which were "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt", "The Great Escape" and "It's A Hit". The album takes its name from the J.D. Salinger short story "For Esme - With Love and Squalor". They have since released LP Crap Attack, which is a collection of B-Sides, covers and other rarities, and their full follow-up album, Brain Thrust Mastery which debuted in the UK on March 17,2008 reached number 11 at the UK Album charts.
On the 1st November 2007, NME reported that Michael Tapper has left We Are Scientists under amicable circumstances, and on September 18, 2007, the band announced on their website that Max Hart, a keyboardist and guitarist who has played live with them before, has joined the band temporarily. As they put it: "There's no easy answer as to how long Max will stick around. Maybe we'll grow to hate his sanctimonious ways, which for now tickle us so. Maybe he'll grow to hate our open-minded, funny, refreshing, handsome ways, thus achieving what psychologists and bookies long ago labeled impossible."
And to make things even more exciting for the band, We Are Scientists is featured in the soundtrack of the 2008 film Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, which Bishop Allen - at the time featuring former We Are Scientists drummer Michael Tapper - appears in a cameo.
According to Keith Murray's Wikipedia he was nominated for World's Sexiest Vegetarian 2007 and is predicted that he will be the new face of Louis Vuitton's spring/summer '09 collection.
The Band's 3rd effort, Barbara, was released in June of 2010 and features ex-Razorlight drummer Andy Burrows.
Callbacks
We Are Scientists Lyrics
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'Cause I'm already kind of sweating and freaking out
I got a time-bomb headache that's ticking down
I guess that everything's better when I'm not around
It's all out of context
It's nothing I'm into
Call it a complex
I'm tired of these hangups
I wish somebody would call me back
How about it?
Well, my tongue is tired
And I'm seeing stars
I got a million ugly words for what you are
I got a busted back
And a broken heart
I guess that everything is better wherever you are
It's all out of context
It's nothing I'm into
Call it a complex
It's really quite simple
I'm tired of these hangups
I wish somebody would call me back
How about it?
It's all out of context
It's nothing I'm into
Call it a complex
It's really quite simple
I'm tired of these hangups
I wish somebody would call me back
And I'm so sorry to bring you down
I guess that everything's better when I'm not around
And I'm so sorry to bring you down
I guess that everything's better when I'm not around
And I'm so sorry to bring you down
I guess that everything's better when I'm not around
The lyrics of "Callbacks" touch upon the feelings of anxiety, self-doubt, and rejection. The song starts with the singer acknowledging that they should leave since they are sweating and freaking out, indicating that they are in a situation that is making them uncomfortable. The time-bomb headache signifies the pressure building up inside of them, and the feeling that they are not wanted in that space.
The singer then expresses their frustration with the situation, stating that everything is better when they are not around. They describe their emotions as a "complex" and mention that they are tired of the hang-ups that come with it. The chorus then repeats this sentiment, expressing a desire for someone to call them back or acknowledge their presence.
The second verse highlights the physical and emotional pain that the singer is experiencing. They have a "busted back" and "broken heart," indicating that they are suffering physically and emotionally. However, they still believe that everything is better wherever the person they are addressing is, indicating an unfulfilled need for their attention and possibly even love.
Overall, "Callbacks" is a reflection of the universal feelings of anxiety and rejection, which emerge when one is in a space where they feel like they do not belong. The song captures the complex emotions that arise when someone desires acceptance and companionship from another, but those feelings remain unreciprocated.
Line by Line Meaning
I guess that I should probably leave right now
I feel anxious and uncomfortable and maybe I should go
'Cause I'm already kind of sweating and freaking out
I'm experiencing physical symptoms of stress and worry
I got a time-bomb headache that's ticking down
I feel like I'm under intense pressure and it's taking a toll on my health
I guess that everything's better when I'm not around
Maybe things would be easier if I just left
It's all out of context
The situation doesn't make sense to me
It's nothing I'm into
This isn't something I enjoy or feel passionate about
Call it a complex
Maybe this is a personal issue or insecurity of mine
It's really quite simple
Despite overthinking things, the solution may be straightforward
I'm tired of these hangups
I'm exhausted from fixating on these problems
I wish somebody would call me back
I'm looking for someone to offer me support or help me figure things out
How about it?
Can anyone lend a hand?
Well, my tongue is tired
I feel like I've been talking too much or saying the wrong things
And I'm seeing stars
I feel dizzy or disoriented, like I can't see clearly
I got a million ugly words for what you are
I'm angry or hurt and have a lot of negative feelings toward someone
I got a busted back
My physical health may be suffering as a result of my stress
And a broken heart
I'm feeling emotionally hurt or vulnerable
And I'm so sorry to bring you down
I feel guilty or bad about involving someone else in my problems
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER CAIN, KEITH MURRAY, MICHAEL TAPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind