Younger Lovers, The – “4/4 Kick…and Let The BEAT RIDE!” – [Southpaw Records]

Boy meets boy love pop, with dirty lo-fi rock moves and some
dirty rotten luck as well. On “Down Down Gently” despite the
upbeat tappy tempo?? Brontez Purnell?? sings “your heart is full of
whiskey and your fist is full or roses” so things don’t work out too
sweetly. Still, hes making music out of the aches and pains (and
some uncalled for ones have struck these and other Young Lovers
sadly). “The Boy From Leeds” hit me strongest, in a good way, with
its brittle and bright guitars kicking off the high hat whispers, keep
the 4/4 flame burning as bright as ever. “The Boy from Senegal” takes waiting and loneliness, and Brontez just lets “the shadows hold me.” Lyrics rush out, as ink into a teenage diary. I assume that’s him as a kid on the cover in his skateboard pads and helmet, innocence always game for a rough ride? Enough upbeat defiance to overcome even a hint of angst. Maybe not as many exclamation marks as his other?? project “Gravy Train!!!!” buy just as much energy.

-Thurston Hunger