Music review of the Math and Physics Club’s self-titled album

The Math and Physics Club is an indie pop (or indie rock) band based in Seattle, Washington. They are Charles Peart (vocals/rhythm guitar), Kevin Emerson (drums), Ethan Jones (bass/keyboards), James Wehrle (lead guitar), and Saundra Humphrey (violin). Formed in 2004, they have released three EPs and one full-length album through Santa Barbara-based Matinee Recordings. The genre also includes Twee, and according to PitchforkMedia, their music has been described as “music to hang on to”. Suitable for most lovely couple!

The Math and Physics Club is very interesting to listen to. You can listen to Charles’ voice all day long and enjoy the music at the same time. There are no complaints about his voice (and the rest of the Math and Physics Club) and the simplicity of their music, yet the impressive vocals and lyrics have left a vivid imprint on my mind.

The album opens with “Darling, Please Come Home” and it’s such an infectious song that I think it’s one of the best tracks on the album. The guitar on this track keeps looping at a tempo that’s very friendly to our ears and I can’t help but sneer at the guitar playing when I listen to this song. When Charles sings, “Baby won’t you come home please…” I knew they had me, they had me thinking about that song the whole time. Amazing and beautiful opener! I can still imagine myself saying, “Honey, don’t you come home please…”

“I know what I want” is perfect when you’re proposing! Playing the music on this song is very relaxing and notice the lyrics to this song, “How did you know me so well? You smile but you’d never tell me… It’s you… I know what I want..” You can hear Charles’ beautiful voice which is a bonus to this song! He sings effortlessly while the rest of the math and physics club join in on guitar, bass, drums, and even violin. It’s a short song but definitely worth your time to listen to.

Stop complaining about your dates ending up in the rain and check out “April Rains”. Somehow, I can feel Charles singing about his date. Sing about the splendor of rain (you can replace “Rain” with “Shower”) if you’re with someone you love. Charles says, “There’s no better place to be, than to be next to me, huddled under my umbrella, even though it keeps raining…” You can hear a lot of the guitar pluck on “April Showers” and it’s like the math and physics club playing in a cave whenever you hear the guitar pluck/part. Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba… April rains… Although I prefer October rains, my birth month!

“Holidays and Saturdays” is a slow song and demonstrates the versatility of the Math and Physic Club. They are already very good with medium and fast tempo songs, “Holidays and Saturdays” is just another song to show that they can do a slow tempo song. A picnic in the park, croquet on the lawn, staying up late and talking till dawn…these are the things we do on weekends, right? Nice way to slow down the pace of the album.

“La La La Lisa” brings back the beat! It has a few starts and stops in between but nonetheless, it still makes for a good song. Wondering who Lisa is (the girl he met/saw at a club?), Charles sings about her as if he loves her so much, he’s dying to hold her hand, he’s dying to kiss her, he’s dying to be with her. He says, “I would have died for just one kiss, I had the chance just to hold my hand…” It is very clever of the Maths and Physics Club to write such witty words. When Charles sang, “La la la la la…” There must have been a lot going on between Lisa and him.

“Look At Us Now” opens with acoustic guitar and violin. lovable! Nice opening to make me wonder more. “We were in love, but look at us now, baba baba baba baba…” It’s like they’re in love until now. “Look at us now…” Charles added. Then there is a guitar solo followed by a violin solo, what a play in such a short song!

“You’ll Miss Me” is another slow tempo song on the album. It’s one of my favorite songs on the album. I just love the guitar, bass, piano, violin, and even singing this song. It found its way into my heart even on the first listen. Charles says, “I should never have left this on for so long, but I dare say you’re going to miss me…” Then he goes again, “La da da da da la da da….” I have to say, it’s so good! 😀 Every time after the chorus, the piano comes on at exactly the right time. Really touching!

“Cold as Minnesota” stands out for its delicious, punchy bass. The bass line itself is considered to be the best asset of this song. Accompanied by hand claps after the break, it is one of the most danceable songs on the album. This song is as if Charles was pissed off at someone, “Go out in the cold, I don’t want you in here tomorrow when I get up,” but the Math and Physics Club made it an amazing track that was so delicious to our ears. I can’t say no!

From the lyrics of “Like a Simple Plan”, it appears to be a sad song. But then again, the Math and Physics Club made it a fun, dance-able track. Charles sings about a girl who had a failed relationship, “Summer turned to June, she spent mornings and nights in a little room, writing away about another sad romance…” It ends, “she cries and reads to herself to sleep instead”. What a simple plan but with deep meaning!

Math and Physics Club ends with “Last Dance”, a poppy and upbeat song that you want to tap your feet and dance to. The guitar playing was well arranged and timed. One is lead guitar, and the other is rhythm guitar. “Why must you be sad? Now baby don’t be angry, let’s put the past behind us, hit the ground before the last dance… to make you fall in love with me” Next time when you have a party, please dance with your partner and remember the lyrics of “Last Dance”. You will have the best last dance ever!

Rating: I can imagine myself singing two songs that are taken from the album. The “Mathematics and Physics Club” was already created for the couple. Couples and lovers are meant to listen to all their songs and lyrics! If you ever get the chance to sing for your loved ones in front of a big crowd, you’ll know what album to look for! Simple yet heart melting, I can only give it a 7.8 out of 10.

Featured Tracks (My Picks): Baby, Please Come Home, I Know What I Want, You’ll Miss Me, Last Dance and Cool Like Minnesota.