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Rating: Teenage energy turned to black and white, a positive mental attitude, four gritty chords, and the naïve anger of a group of kids eager to express themselves, to say it to one another. Nine raw and uncut tracks, as hard as stones in your shoes. Tracks that resolve in a few, very few minutes.
Originally from Connecticut but adopted New Yorkers, Youth Of Today are among the best representatives of that second wave of American hardcore from 1985 to 1990. From the ashes of Youth Of Today emerged Shelter, still active today.
Originally recorded in September 1985 for Positive Force and released as a 7", this raw stuff, which is dear to hardcore nostalgics and says nothing to everyone else, contains some of the band's classics: "Take a Stand", "I Have Faith", "Can't Close My Eyes", "Youth of Today" and the anthem "Youth Crew", small, brief bursts for restless kids. We are not yet at the level of subsequent albums "Break Down the Walls" and "We're not in this Alone", but the energy is all there, and in this case, the sheer spontaneity that animates all debut works is felt in Ray Cappo's raw and clumsy voice, in the slogan-driven lyrics, in John Porcelly's scratchy guitar riffs, and in the nervous, lightning-fast escapades of the rhythm section, all held together by a simple, clean, and overall effective production (listen to the 1988 version remixed by Don Fury and released in 12" format with the addition of the track "Positive Outlook").
There were many bands ideologically and musically akin to Youth Of Today, but few could boast as much credibility and energy, as evidenced by the freshness emanating from these grooves over twenty years later. Those naïve kids seem to still be there, telling each other something, clattering with their out-of-tune instruments, and living something reminiscent of youth.
Plastic figures photocopied in memory.
Tracklist and Lyrics
05 Take a Stand (00:43)
I see you hide
Do you have pride
Afraid to share what's inside
you've been walked right by
a real nice guy
overlooked and shoved aside
can't hear your voice back in the crowd
move up fornt and shout out loud !
take a stand !
take a stand, say what you feel
be who you want, but be for real!
voice your opinion,
don't jsut sit still
speak your mind at your free will
take a stand !
stand your ground
don't let the world push you around
take a stand !
stand your ground
don't let the world push you around !
06 Positive Outlook (01:22)
Through the clouds i see the light
my conscience tells me
what's wrong and right
morals and goals deep inside
a bunch of feelings i can't hide,
but that's me
it's the way i live
my outlook on life is positive!
so what should i hide
or try to conceal
all of these feelings
that i feel
like to sit and talk about them
i want to stand and shout them!!
11 Stabbed in the Back (01:02)
We were brother, you and me
loyal to our hardcore scene
our thought, our aims,
our goals were true
then someting happened to you
you changed
I remember all the things you said
shit you said !
I guess it was a just a buch of fucking lies
fucking lies!
stabbed us all in the back
right in the back !
Don't you dare look me in the eyes !
all we stood for, all our dreams
you've forgotten what they mean
I tell you this
my thoughts are real
and I'll never change
the way I feel !
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