Wikipedia

Youth Culture Forever

Youth Culture Forever is the second album by Scottish band Paws. It was released on 2 June 2014 on FatCat Records.

Youth Culture Forever
Studio album by
Paws
Released2 June 2014
RecordedLate 2013
Length41:48
LabelFatCat Records
ProducerPaws, Jeremy Backofen
Paws chronology
Cokefloat!
(2012) 		Youth Culture Forever
(2014) 		No Grace
(2016)
Singles from Youth Culture Forever
  1. "Tongues"
    Released: February 2014
  2. "Owls Talons Clenching My Heart"
    Released: April 2014

Background and release

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Paws' debut album Cokefloat! was released on FatCat Records in October 2012.[1] In spring 2013 bassist Matthew Scott left the band, and Ryan Drever took his place.[2][3] Paws toured the US and UK extensively in 2013, playing shows with We Were Promised Jetpacks, Frightened Rabbit, Fucked Up, and Little Big League,[4][5][6] as well as festivals including SXSW,[7] Seaport Music Festival,[8] and T in the Park.[9]

Youth Culture Forever was recorded in late 2013 in upstate New York.[10] Taylor said that compared to their debut, Paws "wished to spend that little bit more time on emphasising the dynamics in the new songs that we've crafted. Experimenting with new instruments in overdubbing for a touch of depth."[10] He told Spin that "before we just went in and blasted the songs out. But this time it’s been nice to think about placements and stuff."[11] Taylor's vocals were intentionally muffled by recording them on a Talkboy.[12]

Youth Culture Forever was released on CD and LP by FatCat Records on 2 June 2014.[13] In Japan, the album was released on Thomason Sounds, and included the 2012 EP Misled Youth as bonus tracks.[14] The title of the album is a quote from Finn the Human of Adventure Time.[12]

The tracks "Tongues" and "Owls Talons Clenching My Heart" were released as singles in early 2014.[15][16][2]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.0/10[17]
Metacritic69/100[18]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [13]
Clash7/10[19]
DIY     [20]
God Is in the TV3/5[21]
Line of Best Fit6.5/10[22]
Loud and Quiet7/10[23]
NME     [24]
Pitchfork7.2/10[25]
The Skinny     [26]
Under the Radar7/10[27]

On Metacritic the album holds a score of 69/100, based on 7 reviews, indicating a "generally favorable" reception.[18]

Steve Mcgillivray of Louder Than War wrote that "a real standout aspect is Philip Taylor's brutally honest songwriting...this is an album that deserves to be heard widely."[3] Clash called the album "enlivening, inspiring, frustrating and maddening in equal measure", and noted a more raw production compared to their debut.[19] Billy Hamilton of Under the Radar wrote that "while it's hardly adventurous, there's plenty of thrill on offer."[27]

As with Paws' debut Cokefloat!, reviewers noted an influence of 90s grunge on Youth Culture Forever. Jeremy Gorden of Pitchfork wrote that "you can pinpoint PAWS' 90s alt rock influences from a mile away — there's a bit of Mascis, Malkmus, Cuomo, and the like."[25] DIY said that "PAWS haven’t lost their 90s alt-rock sound...but they've beefed it up considerably."[20]

Youth Culture Forever was shortlisted for the 2015 Scottish Album of the Year Award.[28]

Track listing

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Youth Culture Forever track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Erreur Humaine"03:19
2."Tongues"02:13
3."Someone New"02:23
4."Owls Talons Clenching My Heart"03:34
5."Give Up"02:21
6."Alone"03:55
7."An Honest Romance"02:47
8."Narcissist"01:55
9."Let's All Let Go"02:43
10."Great Bear"01:58
11."YCF"02:51
12."War Cry"11:43
Total length:41:48
Japanese CD release bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."BAINZ"03:16
14."The Hospital Song"01:51
15."Linus Van Pelt"03:10
16."Misled Youth"01:24
17."Oh, The Places You'll Go"03:05

Personnel

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Paws

  • Phillip Jon Taylor – vocals, guitar, lyrics
  • Josh Swinney – drums
  • Ryan Drever – bass

Other credits

  • Isabel Castellvi – cello on "Erreur Humaine", "Owls Talons Clenching My Heart", and "Alone"
  • Adam Pierce – piano on "Tongues"

Technical

  • Jeremy Backofen, Paws – production
  • Alan Douches – mastering
  • Peter Katis – mixing

Artistic

  • Jill Collins – illustration
  • Gracie Magee, Josh Swinney – photography

References

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  1. ^ Mike Haydock (2012-10-02), "Cokefloat! (review)", BBC Music, archived from the original on 2012-10-06, retrieved 2024-04-24
  2. ^ a b "Cath Records Artists", Cath Records, archived from the original on 2015-03-13
  3. ^ a b Steve Mcgillivray (2014-08-15), "PAWS: Youth Culture Forever – album review", Louder Than War, archived from the original on 2015-06-20, retrieved 2024-04-26
  4. ^ "Interview: We Were Promised Jetpacks", rockintheburbs.com, archived from the original on 2017-12-11, retrieved 2024-04-26
  5. ^ Dean Antonio (2013-06-13), "Go To: Tonight (6/13) Fucked Up, PAWS, Twin Peaks @ The Sinclair", Boston Hassle, archived from the original on 2023-03-27, retrieved 2024-04-26
  6. ^ Andrew Sacher (2013-09-09), "PAWS recording a new LP in NYC, then touring with Little Big League whose LP is out now and streaming (dates & videos)", BrooklynVegan, archived from the original on 2016-07-28, retrieved 2024-04-26
  7. ^ "The Pitchfork Guide to SXSW 2013", Pitchfork, 2013-03-11, archived from the original on 2024-01-22, retrieved 2024-04-26
  8. ^ Bill Pearis (2013-06-12), "White Fence playing Seaport on Friday with PAWS ++ two Northside shows and updated dates", BrooklynVegan, retrieved 2024-04-26
  9. ^ "T in the Park 2013 Line Up", BBC, retrieved 2024-04-26
  10. ^ a b Mike Diver (2013-12-09), "Video Exclusive: PAWS Studio Diary", Clash, archived from the original on 2024-04-26, retrieved 2024-04-26
  11. ^ Kyle McGovern (2013-12-02), "PAWS Chase Hi-Fi Glory on New Album 'Youth Culture Forever'", Spin, archived from the original on 2016-06-11, retrieved 2024-04-26
  12. ^ a b Chris Ogden (2015-06-17), "An Honest Romance: PAWS revisit Youth Culture Forever", The Skinny, archived from the original on 2017-02-20, retrieved 2024-04-26
  13. ^ a b Youth Culture Forever at AllMusic
  14. ^ "Paws "Youth Culture Forever"", inpartmaint.com (in Japanese), archived from the original on 2015-03-25, retrieved 2024-04-26
  15. ^ Miles Bowe (2014-04-23), "PAWS – "Owls Talons Clenching My Heart" (Stereogum Premiere)", Stereogum, archived from the original on 2023-07-06, retrieved 2024-04-25
  16. ^ Miles Bowe (2024-02-26), "PAWS – "Tongues" Video", Stereogum, archived from the original on 2024-04-26, retrieved 2024-04-25
  17. ^ "PAWS Youth Culture Forever", AnyDecentMusic?, retrieved 2024-04-24
  18. ^ a b "Youth Culture Forever by Paws". Metacritic. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  19. ^ a b Robin Murray (2014-06-09), "PAWS – Youth Culture Forever", Clash, archived from the original on 2024-04-26, retrieved 2024-04-26
  20. ^ a b Coral Williamson, "PAWS - Youth Culture Forever", DIY, archived from the original on 2024-04-26, retrieved 2024-04-26
  21. ^ Paul Marshall (2014-06-02), "PAWS - Youth Culture Forever (Fatcat Records)", God Is in the TV, retrieved 2024-08-22
  22. ^ Jon Putnam (2014-05-29), "PAWS - Youth Culture Forever", Line of Best Fit, retrieved 2024-08-22
  23. ^ James West (May 2014), "Youth Culture Forever (review)", Loud and Quiet, no. 58, archived from the original on 2014-07-07
  24. ^ Rhian Daly (2014-05-30), "PAWS – Youth Culture Forever", NME, archived from the original on 2024-04-26, retrieved 2024-04-26
  25. ^ a b Jeremy Gordon (2014-05-09), "Youth Culture Forever (review)", Pitchfork, archived from the original on 2014-05-09, retrieved 2024-04-26
  26. ^ Chris McCall (2014-05-27), "PAWS – Youth Culture Forever", The Skinny, archived from the original on 2024-04-26, retrieved 2024-04-26
  27. ^ a b Billy Hamilton (2014-05-08), "Youth Culture Forever (review)", Under the Radar, retrieved 2024-04-26
  28. ^ Brian Ferguson (2015-05-28), "Scottish Album of the Year shortlist announced", The Scotsman, archived from the original on 2024-04-26, retrieved 2024-04-26
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