Los Campesinos!/Crying/DJ Scott Heisel

Los Campesinos! is a band that wears everything on its sleeve. One look at the exclamation point in the name or the fact that all the band members have changed their last names to Campesinos! should tip you off. The Welsh-based band became popular in the late 2000s with a series of indie pop releases. Their multi-instrumental sound is raucous and energetic, like a punk version of Belle & Sebastian. Their new album, Sick Scenes, blends the band’s more danceable and indie sounds with some slower tunes and a more nuanced approach to songwriting. “5 Flucloxacillin” deals with current issues with prescription drugs, and “I Broke Up in Amarante” follows the lead singer through a mental crisis. Even though the music isn’t quite as bouncy and peppy as before, the band’s earnestness still shines through during a live show. (Johnny Cook)