The Young Hearts - Somewhere Through The Night

 

I do like The Young Hearts. I reviewed their second EP and also their debut album which you can find here. I've often written about how Pop Punk gets a bad rep. It is not all about robotic voices and riffs you've heard countless times and there isn't a pair of half pants in sight.

The best of that genre have crossed boundaries into Power Pop and beyond. The Young Hearts are a great example of this, they have not forgotten their roots, yet have expanded their sound through Power Pop towards an Indie Rock vibe, a little American maybe.

They have managed this without losing any of the melody, big riffs and anthemic choruses. They are a corking quartet and the UK provides little competition to what they master. Blessed with a killer rhythm session, a great guitarist and a front man who ensures that the melody and harmony doesn't subside, despite the frantic pace.

Just listen to the opening riff of The Way Back and tell me it doesn't hook you. They even get a little Celtic instrumentally on the slower, Our Hometown. A Charmed Society is very Green Day. I saw a review site note the band as Americana and was completely amused.

Passenger is a little Americana and a wonderful other side to the band, but it feels more Folk than Americana and there certainly isn't anything else that fits that genre. Then there is the title track which closes the album splendidly.

That closer is great Pop Rock, not as full on as what has largely gone before, if it had a little less pace, it might even sneak into Classic Rock.  It even adds Piano and Sax. You can imagine The Young Hearts being formidable live. Their second album is full of hooks and choruses. They are really good at what they do.

You can listen to and buy the album here. 

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