Topshelf Records

@youblewit #vinyl is FINALLY in! (Taken with Instagram at Topshelf HQ)

derrickshanholtzer:

You Blew It!
by Roman Aguila

outsightfl:

You Blew It

tannerjones:

WOAH. WHAT. 


WOAH. 

cooooool!

thispicturepostcardmodernity:

You Blew It! - Grow Up, Dude (Released 24th April 2012)

Arguably one of the most hotly anticipated albums of the year thus far, Florida?s You Blew It! have been spending the previous two years building up to this moment. Already firmly established within the twinkly 90?s emo-throwback genre, this is their first release on the highly revered Topshelf Records label. In a scene often dominated by EPs, splits and demos, the treat of a full 12 tracks from one of my favourite artists was insatiable.

However, I?d prefer to get this next part out of the way sooner rather than later, as an honest critique is what this record deserves. I was immediately struck by the gritty under-produced demo-esque sound. I believe this was the band?s intent, and don?t get me wrong, I can love that style; perhaps a rawness reserved for bands who are less skilled at their instruments. Yeah, some bands sound better this way. YBI! doesn?t. Indeed it appears they?ve shot themselves in the feet by releasing a far more polished version of ?Terry v. Tori?, complete with a great video, last year. Band member Tim has since commented that ?so many knobs? were used on that recording, and as we all know too well, recording is expensive. Admittedly though the low-fi approach sometimes masks true brilliance by smushing clipped vocals and inseparable guitars together. HOWEVER, let?s not get too hung up on this!

Several listens in, you actually grow into the mould of this record. Previously YBI! were on the whole a more contained and often serene affair. Whereas with Grow Up, Dude there?s an infectious boisterousness about them, typically only translatable in some tightly cramped sweaty basement where everybody chants along. After the brief, but trademark twangle, of opener ?Grow Up, Dude?, we?re thrown into what feels like the front row, and now I?m chanting along ?I was home!? (?Pinball House?). Immediately this record is driven by the full band, and I?m struggling to take the amount of talent in. Slightly less twinkle and more emphasis on carefully orchestrated chord progressions timed with ever intricate percussive work. Clearly a lot of thought has gone into making chaotic crowd pleasers, while still maintaining an impressively melodic sound.

Vocalist/guitarist TJ does a great job fronting this band, with his unique vocal style, often reminding me of hoarser meld of Jonathan Dimitri (State Lines) and Steven Gray (Wavelets/Dikembe). I enjoy the layered vocals found on a lot of tracks, with contributions from the other band members, and stylistic sing-a-longs. Someone?s definitely been giving Tanner a lot of excuses, as he spews out lyrical content, cryptically bitter. Highlights obviously include the opening line of ?Terry V. Torri?, ?I?m usually not one to pick fights / but you?ve really crossed the line this time?, and the resentful ?Medal Of Honour?, ?I?m not a fucking trophy / but to you I might as well have been?. Though, it?s not all heart-on-your-sleeve hopelessness. There?s a running theme of self assurance and realisation, heard on the dreamy ?The One With Marc?, and the reflective ?I?m Bill Paxton?. As the record?s title suggests, this is indeed a soundtrack to growing up, complete with the touch of afterthought in the final line ?when will I see that superstitions won?t do anything??, to counter the opener. A previously unheard softness is presented on the track ?The Fifties?; definitely a grower, in fact bringing to mind Nick Stutsman and his band Park Jefferson. More characteristic of YBI!?s previous work is the compelling ?The One With David? - ?IT?S NOT ME, IT?S YOU!?. Perhaps the perfect balance of this soft vs brash approach can be found on ?Good For Bond, Bad For You?, with moments of contrast redolent of countless early 00?s emo acts.

Almost every song written by YBI! before GUD is longer than the longest track on this record (clocking in at a mere 3:33). Gone are the extended build-ups and intermittent intros comprised of guitar duets a la American Football, and in is a much more direct approach. I think we have to be careful with the constant urge to draw comparisons to bands of the 90?s, despite this being the premise of the genre. No one needs to ?sound? like someone else, if they genuinely don?t. YBI! have really grown into their own unique sound, with the best bits of the old and all the good bits of the new.

8/10

RIYL - Wavelets, State Lines, Snowing, Stay Ahead Of The Weather
Bandcamp - http://youblewit.bandcamp.com/ 

Great review, thanks!

tannerjones:

THREE TIMES. ON THE ROAD TO MILLION$. GIRLS, FAST CARS, AND CANDY BARS.