Underachievers Please Try Harder

Underachievers Please Try Harder is the second LP from the indie band Camera Obscura, released in 2004. The album was released in Australia by Popfrenzy.

Reception

Writing for Allmusic, critic Tim Sendra praised the album, again comparing the group to Belle & Sebastian and writing, "the band manages the rare feat of sounding full and rich without jamming every possible frequency with sound. It also throws in loads of imaginative little hooks that keep things lively."^[1] Scott Plagenhoef of Pitchfork Media wrote "Their honest, wide, and adult approach to heartbreak, romantic liaisons, and escapism is extended to the subtle range of influence—most of which is shown off on the tracks sung by John Henderson."^[3]

Track listing

1. "Suspended from Class"
2. "Keep It Clean"
3. "A Sisters Social Agony"
4. "Teenager"
5. "Before You Cry"
6. "Your Picture"
7. "Number One Son"
8. "Let Me Go Home"
9. "Books Written for Girls"
10. "Knee Deep at the NPL"
11. "Lunar Sea"

US edition bonus tracks

12. "I Don't Want to See You"
13. "Footloose and Fancy Free"

Australian edition bonus tracks

12. "San Francisco Song"
13. "Amigo Mio"

Personnel

• Tracyanne Campbell – vocals, guitar
• Carey Lander – organ, piano, vocals
• Kenny McKeeve – vocals, guitar, harmonica, mandolin
• John Henderson – vocals, percussion
• Gavin Dunbar – bass
• Lee Thomson – drums
• Nigel Baillie – trumpet
• Geoff Allan – percussion, Stylophone

Production notes:

• Camera Obscura – producer
• Geoff Allan – producer, engineer
• Frank Arkwright – mastering
• Stuart Murdoch – photography

References