Picture the scene. It’s 2008. MySpace is still the hip social media of choice and Pitchfork, NME, MTV’s Gonzo, and ATP Festival reign supreme, all spreading the gospel of underground indie, garage pop, and art rock across the world. At the heart of it all, Cardiff-based seven-piece Los Campesinos! have finished university, giddy off the momentum of their debut album, but nervous to fulfill the conditions of their two-album record deal with Wichita Recordings too fast. So what did the plucky youngsters decide to do? They released a 10-track project and packaged it up with a bonus DVD, poster, and fanzine that included contributions from several of their friends and inspirations. Was We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed an album or an EP? Nobody really knew, but whatever it was, it seemed to work. Nearly 16 years on from its original release, We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed remains one of the most beloved albums in LC!’s arsenal — a time capsule of what it meant to be doing things your own way in the very thick of noughties indie rock.
