Camera Obscura at SXSW

Looking at the list of bands that are going to be at SXSW, I have to admit that I practically don't recognize any of them except Camera Obscura. So I will write about them. Camera Obscura is a great chamberpop band from Scotland with a very mellow sound. They're also quite retro for a modern band, and one look at their influences reveals why--the list spans everything from Elvis to The Lovin' Spoonful to Joy Division, so their music is occasionally heavy on the electronic instrumentals, coupled with excellent vocal melodies. I think they've been compared to Belle & Sebastian a lot, largely because both bands are from Scotland and they have a somewhat similar sound. I can't say which I prefer, but I will concede that Tracyanne Campbell, the singer for Camera Obscura, has a much lovelier voice. And while their songs have the same upbeat melodies and fun instrumentation, there are definitely darker emotions expressed in the lyrics if you bother to listen closely enough. Case in point, the first Camera Obscura song I ever loved was, "I Need All the Friends I Can Get," which has a very happy, sort of sing-song melody, and lyrics like, "You can't see that you're just the same/As all the stupid people who you hate." They manage to be insulting while sounding absolutely benign and innocent, which is a very trademark sort of thing for them. If it sounds like something you'd be into, I recommend checking out their two most recent albums, "Underachievers Please Try Harder" and my personal favorite, "Let's Get Out of This Country." And if you're lucky enough to be at SXSW this year, make sure you don't miss out on seeing them on the first day of the festival!