THE WOMBATS: Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life

The Wombats are a mixed bag- usually entertaining, always smart, sometimes too clever for their own good.  Eight songs into their fourth album, Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life, you'll find the especially poppy track I Only Wear Black.  "I moved to LA and it rained every day, but I don't really care..." sings Matthew Murphy in an upbeat, amused-to-no-end cadence.  If this level of cheeky self-aware Britpop doesn't quickly turn you off, then you're the audience for The Wombats.  And I mean that sincerely- get past the snark, and they're often damn good.  

Murphy's lyrics, which range from hyper-articulate to comically weird, are delivered through crisp, immaculate vocals.  In that way, he brings Morrissey to mind.  And granted, for a mid-level British indie rock band, there's probably no higher compliment.  Turn is one of the best songs on the new album, and for three and a half minutes, the comparison is apt.   The Wombats are not exactly on The Smiths' mythic level, but on their best day, they could have played the same stage.  Just a little lower on the bill.  B