Rockness Recommends
Youth Lagoon embrace the pain.
October 5, 2011
Boise's Youth Lagoon is the one-man band (for recorded stuff, anyway) of Trevor Powers. He creates heartbreaking bedroom (den, living room, or wherever he writes it) pop that will make you feel... well... sad. But don't let that keep you away from Youth Lagoon, because sometimes sad is just what you want.
This emphasis on melancholy here is not to suggest that Youth Lagoon's songs just sit around and brood. That would be boring and uninspired. No, these perfectly crafted pop songs build towards something else... something that's perhaps... hopeful? Yeah, that sounds about right. I don't know about you, but when listening to a quiet song and suddenly those strums and drums kick in, and the singer steps it up a few octaves and decibels to fully grasp that last chorus; I tend to get more hopeful about things.
So yes, Youth Lagoon isn't just sad, sad and more sad. Yet when you really want to embrace your wallow, this is the band you should think to listen to. Go for something new. Don't you think your heartbreak could use a break from all those marathon Bon Iver and The Antlers and Perfume Genius wallowing sessions? Those guys are great, but your heart has suffered enough. Youth Lagoon will be there for you. Youth Lagoon will be there for you... to make you... sad.
Youth Lagoon plays The Empty Bottle, on Friday, October 7th.
This emphasis on melancholy here is not to suggest that Youth Lagoon's songs just sit around and brood. That would be boring and uninspired. No, these perfectly crafted pop songs build towards something else... something that's perhaps... hopeful? Yeah, that sounds about right. I don't know about you, but when listening to a quiet song and suddenly those strums and drums kick in, and the singer steps it up a few octaves and decibels to fully grasp that last chorus; I tend to get more hopeful about things.
So yes, Youth Lagoon isn't just sad, sad and more sad. Yet when you really want to embrace your wallow, this is the band you should think to listen to. Go for something new. Don't you think your heartbreak could use a break from all those marathon Bon Iver and The Antlers and Perfume Genius wallowing sessions? Those guys are great, but your heart has suffered enough. Youth Lagoon will be there for you. Youth Lagoon will be there for you... to make you... sad.
Youth Lagoon plays The Empty Bottle, on Friday, October 7th.