Youth Group - The Night Is Ours [album]

Ivy League - US Release: 7 April 2009

March 22, 2009, 11:52 AM

Views: 1188   Comments: 2

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I think one easy way of telling if it’s a good album, is if I would actually choose to put it on after I’m finished reviewing it. And I would DEFINITELY choose to listen to Youth Group's The Night Is Ours again and again.

Youth Group’s fourth release was let loose in their native Australia in June last year, but isn’t due for US release until this coming April. This version will boast completely different artwork (which is entirely welcome, as the original does not express the contents at all) and 2 bonus tracks ‘The Night is Ours’ and ‘Afraid of the Dark’.

The list of musicians to assist on the album is fairly sizeable considering Youth Group are known for their power pop/indie rock style rather than big band, orchestral crescendos, but as soon as I’ve turned the album on I commend the genius who decided to mix the two for The Night Is Ours.

With one of the best opening tracks to an album I’ve heard in a while, The Night Is Ours commences with the sombre, sophisticated and folk-like track ‘Good Time’. Lead singer Toby Martin’s vocals are foreign and thoughtful and have a very Idlewild feel to them.

With sliding movements between guitar solos, piano snippets and horns, the album is absolutely superior to anything from Youth Group previously. Upon release of their significant 2006 effort Casino Twilight Dogs, I think Youth Group were unceremoniously tossed into the one-hit wonder category which had a lot of people attending their gigs (or purchasing the album) just to hear their most famous single, Alphaville cover ‘Forever Young’.
But upon hearing The Night Is Ours, I have a sneaking suspicion that Youth Group will be lifted out of the pile, (leaving many in their dust to wither and die in the ‘one-hit wonder’ pit) and prove that they have a lot more to offer in music world.

The use of trumpets and simple, chanting lyrics has ‘One For Another’ sounding very anthem-like whereas the more driven synth backing to ‘Two Sides’ has a radio-friendly vibe to it, and I immediately wish I knew the words so I could sing along. Each track flows perfectly into the next, and is obviously the product of spectacular amounts of consideration, producing a cohesive and pleasant pace to The Night Is Ours.

‘All This Will Pass’ is a more folk-like, dry song, which makes me understand some of the references reviewers are so keen to give Martin to Morrissey. Despite originating from complete opposite continents, Martin’s vocals would be right at home on any of the Smiths albums.
The 4 lads let loose and reach their rock peak on ‘Friedrichstrasse’. The culmination of building vocals backed with a great bass line, a tambourine and an absolute mountain of symbols gives this track such enormous personality.

The splendidly hopeful lyrics bring track ‘Babies In Your Dreams’ to the forefront of my memory once the album is over… “Traffic goes by, looking for a new high, and a reason to try/I can’t go on without a song to sing/and something to love”.

My favourite track would be ‘In My Dreams’. I like the fast-slow-fast pace change they employ and the guitar build half way through is unique and expertly executed.
‘What Is A Life?’ is pre-empted by a 30-second Spanish guitar fill, which doesn’t make much sense in the scheme of the entire album, but as it’s not offensive, I’m not going to knock it, and this album is just casual enough to pull it off.

Now, I can definitely say that The Night Is Ours is not one of those ‘sneak out in the middle of the night and never call you’ albums. It is an album you have a relationship with, which sticks with you, makes you think about things a little more intensely than you usually would, and generally has you deciding on a happier, more hopeful outlook on life.
Now that’s a lot of pressure when referencing any topic, especially an album - but trust me, it will not disappoint.

Track listing:
1. Good Time
2. One for Another
3. Two Sides
4. Dying at Your Own Party
5. All This Shall Pass
6. Friedrichstrasse
7. A Sign
8. Babies in Your Dreams
9. In My Dreams
10. What Is a Life?
11. The Night Is Ours
12. Afraid of The Dark

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