As of last year, I had only heard music from You Me At Six a handful of times. I have a very vivid memory of listening to Sinners Never Sleep (their third album) with my ex-girlfriend, the day after we met. It was a great album, but not every song stuck out to me.
But Cavalier Youth…. I can honestly say that I am a serious fan of every single song on this record. It’s perfect. The production, the sound, you name it. I can’t find a damn thing wrong with this album.
Cavalier Youth is the fourth studio album from YMAS, and it is utter perfection. Produced by Neal Avron, everything about it is memorable, down the very last note struck on the epic twelfth track (“Wild Ones”).
Vocalist Josh Franceschi, guitarists Max Helyer and Chris Miller, bassist Matt Barnes, and drummer Dan Flint prove that hard work does indeed pay off. It’s cliché nowadays to call a band’s album it’s strongest work to date, but the case can be made for You Me At Six. Each song has its own emotions, feelings, and identity, and it’s never boring. I literally anticipated the thought of “Oh, maybe this next song isn’t going to be as great to me” every time a track ended, but no. Not once.
When I listen to music, I tend to think of a wide variety of imagery. Throughout the duration of Cavalier Youth, I couldn’t help feeling like I was in one of those scenes in a movie where the future is bright, and everything feels very hopeful. It takes a lot for me to say that about any kind of record, and I’m the guy who loves everything.
It’s been known that You Me At Six play arena shows in their home country of the United Kingdom, but the release of this record should without a doubt propel them to superstar status here. The world has needed a rock n’ roll revival. This band, this album is exactly what is needed to spark that revival.
Don’t be surprised if you see them playing arenas all over the world in the next few years. They deserve it.
Cavalier Youth will be released through Prospect Park Records, and will be available in stores everywhere and iTunes on January 27, 2014.
This has been another shameless promotion.