The title of PAWS’ second album suggests a celebratory tone, a refusal to accept the ageing process perhaps, or maybe a tongue-in-cheek comment on the way so much culture favours only the young. Musically, it sounds like all three readings are equally valid: it’s a boundlessly energetic collection, bursting with whopping great choruses and joi de vivre. It’s also brimming with angry tales of heartbreak (‘Someone New’) and tetchy strops (‘it’s unfair, fucking unfair!’ Philip Taylor hollers on ‘Give Up’). It’s also exploding with big, grungy guitars and a residual dash of lo-fi slackerism – calling to mind another apt reference in Pavement’s ‘Perfect Sound Forever’. Big, chunky Lou Barlow style bass lines are integral to the sound and keep it all together nicely.
Then there’s closer, the twelve-minute ‘War Cry’. It’s quite a departure. It’s also quite heavy and strewn with feedback. Before spiralling off on a post-rock adventure and culminates in a megalithic climax.
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What sets ‘Youth Culture Forever’ aside from so many other 90s inspired alt-rock albums – apart from the quality of songwriting, the punchy tunes and some snappy lyrics that really hit the spot – is the volume conveyed.
It’s an album that’s clearly been performed loud. It deserves to be played loud, too, while you pogo round the house and think ‘yeah, fuck Morrissey.’
PAWS Online
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