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Camera Obscura


Formed: 1999
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Genre: Twee Pop
Years Active: 2001 -
Meaning of the Name: Latin for 'dark chamber'. A camera used to entertain in years gone by.
Core Members: Tracyanne Campbell, Gavin Dunbar
Way of Working: Collective

Essential Releases

Dummy

Biggest Bluest
Hi-Fi (2001)

Charmingly understated indie-pop sound, produced by Belle & Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch.

Album Title 2

Underachievers Please
Try Harder (2003)

A collection of wistful, beautifully arranged songs.

Album Title 2

Let's Get Out of
This Country (2006)

Perfect blend of classic pop songwriting with their distinctive bittersweet lyrical observations, earning them wider acclaim.


For many serious music fans, Camera Obscura has long been appreciated for their exquisitely crafted, melancholic pop. Yet, it was with their pivotal album, Let's Get Out of This Country, that the Glasgow quintet truly stepped out of the shadow cast by their more established contemporaries, Belle & Sebastian.

While still retaining the quintessential "twee" sensibilities, a subgenre characterised by its gentle melodies and unpolished charm, the sound on this record became undeniably their own because it possessed a more assured artistic voice.

Take, for instance, the deceptively simple yet catchy track, 'Razzle Dazzle Rose'. It's a song that burrows into your mind, exploring the quiet fortitude required to steel yourself against the inherent challenges of the world. While singer Tracyanne Campbell often notes her tendency to write from what she calls "the pathetic perspective", 'Razzle Dazzle Rose' presents an unexpectedly upbeat counterpoint. The soft, familiar aesthetic that has become synonymous with Camera Obscura remains, but here, there's a palpable acknowledgment of the passing of time, showing a maturity absent from some of their earlier work.

Where the band once presented themselves as naive youngsters at the mercy of the world's changing whims, this album expresses an assured self-determination, worthy of adulthood, that resonated deeply within the indie-pop scene of the early 2000s and continues to do so today.


Skills

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? Does it make you feel something? Do you laugh, cry, fall in love, get angry?
80

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.
65

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.
70

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.
85

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?
38

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.
85

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.
70

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.
85

Singing

i Technical attributes.
80

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.
87

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?
45

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.
60

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.
85

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?
65

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.
65

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint.
45

Commercial & Critical Success

Awards

Certifications

Charts

Critics >>>

  • Fact: Let's Get Out of This Country - Best Albums of the 2000s: 93rd
  • Pitchfork: Let's Get Out of This Country - Best Albums of the 2000s: 179th
  • Under the Radar: Let's Get Out of This Country - Best Albums of the 2000s: 4th

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