Latin for Truth
Youth Crew Blues
Better Days Records (2011)
Sounds Like: In the vein of All Heart and With The Punches, but with a heavier twist.
Rating: 8.5/10
Apparently, college football isn’t the only thing Alabama has to offer. Scottsboro’s Latin for Truth has gathered quite a bit of buzz with their tight musicianship, genuine message and ability to rip apart stages with their hardcore-influenced style of pop-punk. With a few EPs and a solid debut album (Eleven Eleven) already under their belts, there was a lot of anticipation for the release of Youth Crew Blues. And take it from me, it does not disappoint.
This record is an eleven-song pot of gumbo and you can hear the eclectic influences that helped shape it all the way through. There are guitar and drum solos, sing-alongs, breakdowns, silky smooth hooks, and guttural verses. It basically has something for everyone that has ears.
But, like eyes on a lady, the first thing I noticed about this album was the undeniable talent on every instrument. In terms of sheer skill, look no further than the intro to the finale “Author of Everything” where the two guitarists, Charles and Zack, complement each other amazingly well. It’s fast, technical enough to grab your attention, and Tom leads us right into the song with a fun bass line. Corey the drummer provides a solid backbone to the band with his impressive transitions and clean fills. “Pall Malls,” is one of Youth Crew Blues longer tracks because of a great, minute-long drum line that acts as the perfect way to end an emotional song about the death of a loved one.
As we all know though, nobody ever hits all the green lights. In the case of Youth Crew Blues, the one identifiable blemish is the rough vocals, or screams. It’s an isolated flaw, as the record doesn’t heavily rely on screaming, but there are a few instances where it simply doesn’t sound good. For me, the bridge in “Forever, Down To The Filter” is a low point solely because of the roughness in the vocals.
Aside from that slip-up though, I’m a huge fan of this album. In this genre right now, it feels like polished musicianship is often traded in for too many breakdowns and fashion statements. Kids are drooling over mosh parts but neglect to notice how the songs are put together and how adeptly the instruments are played. It’s refreshing to see Latin for Truth doing their part to keep the focus on what makes the music good. Youth Crew Blues is about growing up and dealing with not having everything you wanted. It’s about taking your life back on your terms. It’s full of impressive musicianship, passionate and honest lyrics, and above all else, a positive message for everyone to hear. Do yourself the biggest of favors and go out and pick the album up now!
–Felipe Garcia
No Comments