17. July 2025
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Media Review

We Are Scientists – Qualifying Miles

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

We Are Scientists - Qualifying Miles

We Are Scientists - Qualifying Miles
3.6

Rating

 3.6/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Nice album in the rock to indie rock range
  • Some good storytelling and interesting plots

Flyctory.com Cons

  • A bit too brave and less "punching"

Especially in the 2000’s, We Are Scientists were favorites of the global indie-rock scene. They made it to the charts in many markets. On 18th July 2025, the US-Americans release their ninth studio album overall, Qualifying Miles. As a miles and status hunter at heart, this review somehow felt mandatory.

 

We Are Scientists – About The Artists

We Are Scientists nowadays solely consists of Keith Murray (vocals, guitars, keys) and Chris Cain (bass, backing vocals). They have been founding members when the band was formed in Berkeley in California. Nowadays they are based in New York City. In 2005, they released their debut album With Love and Squalor, which was a Top 10 US Heat release. Especially in Great Britain, they conserved their popularity. The 2008 single Chick Lit even topped the Scottish charts. Their last album release was Lobes in 2023.

 

We Are Scientists – Qualifying Miles – Track by Track

The twelve track album lasts 43 minutes.

1. A Prelude To What

Despite the opener comes with a duration of 5:29 minutes, A Prelude To What indeed feels being a prelude. The song very slowly gains speed and energy and thereby rather stays at a moderate level.

2. Starry-Eyed

I’m dumber than I look
Impossible as that may seem
I’m always thunderstruck
And dumbfounded perpetually
Now and then
I find I’m in the same position
Once again

With the second song, the album in fact kicks off. The song is a nice indie rocker with a good melody. The chorus has a nice catch as well.

3. Dead Letters

It feels a bit that the guitars of We Are Scientists are bit of shy and needed some songs to warm up. Especially the guitar solo part spreads strong rock vibes, while the sway of the chorus also has some pop touch. Despite the title and the story of the song, Dead Letter does spread some fun and stays in your mind.

4. The Big One

Short, but powerful – that’s The Big One. The song does not even make it over the three minute mark, but has a lot in stock for fans of guitar-driven indie-rock tracks. Sometimes, the song feels rough, but then turns into a rather melodic direction. A nice one, which has been released two days before the album.

5. Please Don`t Say It

Please Don’t Say It is the first of four songs which has been released before the album. The US-American band shared it in April 2025. With 3:14 minutes, it is one of the shorter songs, but its nice plot leaves a mark.

6. The Same Mistake

You have to clearly state that the slow-ish synth sound of The Same Mistake is a rather unique listen in the context of this album. However, it also feels a bit of boring to me. Thus, I am happy that the 2:45 minute song is the shortest episode of this record.

7. What You Want Is Gone

What You Want Is Gone has been released on 18th June 2025. The song is nice individually and stays in your mind. However, it feels a bit too unimaginative in the context of the album and lacks some new elements and ideas. The guitar solo part is a nice one, though.

8. A Lesson I Never Learned

You don’t have to be a lesson that I never learned is the key phrase of the eighth song of Qualifying Miles. With the high and a bit of whiny vocals of Keith Murray, the song does create a nice atmosphere.

9. I Could Do Much Worse

The ninth track of the album is the May 2025 release I Could Do Much Worse. And, indeed, We Are Scientists could have done much worse. The song has a nice flow and a good leverage of vocal-driven and instrumental-driven parts. Nonetheless, I would not rate the song as an upper average one.

10. I Already Hate This

I definitely would not go that far that I stated I Already Hate This (this album). The duo wrote a song around this title. The song comes with nice storytelling, indeed.

Like dominoes just falling down
The minute you touch this
The feeling is precarious
But I could do much worse

11. The Mall In My Dreams

Indie-rock? There are a couple of songs which are on the very mainstream side. However, this one, which has some ballad touch as well, feels too straight and less edgy to be in the indie range. This works out, but I still do miss a certain punch

12. Promise Me

Qualifying Miles closes with Promise Me. I like the chorus, which reduces quite a lot of the initial feeling that the song could lack character. Thus, it is overall a very pleasing listen.

 

We Are Scientists – Qualifying Miles – Spotify

I will add the Spotify widget once the album has been released.

 

We Are Scientists – Qualifying Miles – Track by Track

The album somehow feels like placing fourth or fifth in the final heat as a favorite sports person of an athletics championship. You know you could have crossed the finish line victoriously.. but in fact you didn’t. Qualifying Miles is nice, but not more. Then, you reflect about the long and successful career of the duo and feel, they should have done better. They didn’t – and thus I go for a very average rating.

Favorite Song:A Lesson I Never Learned

 

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