I listen a lot of music, and on rare occasions I feel compelled to write up a little something regarding an album I’ve listened to. On average, I’ll listen to 200+ new releases from a given year - that’s albums and EPs. Now when I say I rarely do these write ups, I mean I rarely do these write ups. Over the past two years, 2010 and 2011, I’ve written something like this up for one album and it was last year’s release by La Dispute.
But then, on April 24, Topshelf Records released You Blew It!’s debut full length album entitled Grow Up, Dude.
“When will I see that superstitions mean everything?”
Although the short, 46 second title track starts things off, the second track, “Pinball House” is where the album truly feels like it begins. These songs all radiate a sort of positive vibe, and “Pinball House” is certainly no exception, ending with the hopeful lines “We made our way through state lines and ended up alone on the road, so complete though, searching for something we thought we’d never find. I found home.” The lyrical content throughout the album is something that every late teen to young 20 something can relate to - feelings of lost love or friendship, or the need to find yourself or simply having a good time. The songs provide a safe haven of sorts, something to listen to and embrace when the only cure for the way you’re feeling is music.
The 5th track, entitled “Medal Of Honor,” may just be the highlight. It starts off with an inquisitive yell, “Are you kidding me? Because you’ve got to be joking on a night like tonight especially.” This song is the type that couldn’t be more perfect for driving around with the windows down and yelling along at the top of your lungs, not giving a fuck who hears or sees you. But that’s what all these songs are - they’re relatable anthems that’ll change your mood and mindset in the best way possible.
If “Medal Of Honor” isn’t the best track then it’s simply got to be “The One With Marc.” To be completely honest, I’m not sure I’ve ever related as closely to a song as I have with this one. “I’m still lacking confidence in what I’m saying, and I’m not feeling better about anything.” These lyrics resonate with me like no others, and I’m sure they resonate with many other people just like me. The best songs are always the ones that you can relate to, and this album is chock full of those.
The album ends with the song “There’s Nothing I Love More Than Baseball,” and this song wraps up the album quite nicely. It’s one of the calmer, more subdued songs on the album and is a fitting end, sticking with the overall theme and keeping that hopeful yet introspective vibe going. “When will we see that superstitions won’t do anything? When will I see that superstitions won’t do anything?”
This is not an album that you simply listen to. This is an album that you feel and connect with. I’m not going to slap some arbitrary number out of 10 onto this album and say it’s a score. It’s better than that. It’s better than a number or letter grade and it’s different for every single person. The enjoyment you receive from this album will depend on your experiences and feelings, and I feel as if a score will only degrade that.
Grow Up, Dude. I think I did.
You Blew It! // I’m Bill Paxton
You’ve made it known that you’re using the area code to make excuses why you’re useless. Quit whining about it, I think you’re making it a habit turned muscle memory. You’re so good at faking a feeling, but I think that I’ll be alright. We made a night out of highway signs. I think I’ll say it. I’m going to say that this time I think I’m actually fine. There I said it, and I think I meant it. I’m not tired yet, so I’m fighting judgment for the sake of better friends and their attempts at romance. Their accounts of happenstance won’t get them anywhere tonight, but I think that they’ll be alright. I’m right where I need to be, spending sleepless nights at Steven’s and we’re drinking too much coffee. I’m right where I need to be, spending Friday nights with my friends and drinking too much whiskey again.
Listen to the new You Blew It! album, “Grow Up, Dude”. Everyone that reads this. Listen to it. I don’t know if I’ve ever been more serious about recommending an album in my entire life. If you like emo or punk or pop punk or twinkly music or anything in between at all, listen to it. Just do it.
Later this week/this weekend I’m gonna write up a long text post about this album. I rarely do that and when I do, it’s for an extremely meaningful and just all around fucking awesome record. Listen to it. That’s all I’m going to say right now.
“These days I’m a mess of mistakes and awkwardness”
It’s been a while since a lyric has resonated with me quite like this one. I am able to identify and relate with this album so easily. It’s unreal.
You Blew It! // The One With Marc
It’s about time that I start pulling myself together, because my poor excuses for progress are simply postponing the process of gaining confidence in what I’m saying and feeling better about who I’m singing about these days. It’s about time that I stopped gracelessly falling to pieces because my refusal to take any right steps is simply weighing down my friendships and finding me questioning every decision. At least you’re making an impression. What if I tried pretending that the two of us were completely and utterly blameless? I’ve written an ending involving a shaved face and some better posture…I’m hoping. These days I’m a mess of mistakes and awkwardness.
You Blew It! // Just To Make A Sound
Playing records through the night and staring at the moon light.
I’ve never felt so calm, and that’s all I’ll ever need.
The night’s gone now I’m knee-deep in the thoughts that make my head grow from all my fleeting firsts and the things I want to, but I’ve never done, but I still say I will. I’m just one word of a thousand others asking, “has anything ever been real?”
