Wild Cub - "Youth"

Artist: Wild Cub

Album: Youth

Label: Big Light Recordings

Release Date: August 14^th, 2012

Review by: Sean Kayden

Everywhere you turn these days, it seems yet another synth-pop group has entered the already overly crowded arena. With many imitators and not enough innovators, it’s difficult to find something genuinely exceptional. Without coming off completely bias with my predilection to this particular resonance, I decided to give Wild Cub’s debut album, “Youth” an honest listen. During my first go around I noticed how there is something inherently breezy and blissful about this record. Perhaps, I fell victim to my own penchant for this style of music. After moderate reflection on this superbly produced and studio-like generated compilation, I consider Wild Cub sounding like everything else out there, everything that’s more or less good, anyway. At the end of the day or simply at the conclusion of the album, you won’t be changed or feel all that much different. However, the time spent in the world of “Youth” could be far worse anywhere else because singer Keegan DeWitt and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Bullock bring the nostalgic factor to a new high. Sometimes the album feels a bit one-dimensional, but when the sound of beauty meets melancholy yet again, mostly, if not all is forgiven.

“Youth” kicks off with “Shapeless,” a slow dance tune that speeds up into this anthem of recaptured love. The next track is “Colour,” a song that should and probably will be featured in indie movies and the edgier Hollywood romantic comedies. It’s fast-paced, catchy as hell, and will pump you up more than you could ever intend on being. DeWitt and Bullock have this praise worthy ability to go from supercharged anthems with a lot of heart and energy to boot to the carefully constructed, soulful melodies of slowly measured tunes. This phenomenon begins on track six with “The Water” and followed by “Drive,” a song that inexplicability reminds me of a cross between the vocals of Damon Albarn of Blur and Greg Dulli of The Twilight Singers. Regardless, “Drive” is a meticulous, slow smoldering, supremely ruminative highlight from the record. It’s easily the best song here and displays the talents Wild Cub clearly have in store for the present and future material.

The first half of “Youth” offers a great blend of swift and leisurely tempo treats. The second half, however, feels a bit of a retread. Nothing terribly wrong with it, but by the time halftime hits, the listener may become a little restless with the lack of surprises. On a brighter note, there are thirteen tracks present, which is more than the ten or eleven songs typically seen on many albums from this genre. Fortunately the closing track “Windows,” another chilled out remedy for the daydreamers, is very, very good. If you make it to the end of the album in spite of the slightly tedious second half (which could be ignored), Wild Cub does leave you with an all around alluring, comforting, and alleviating tune to send you on your way. Wherever that way is will be strictly upon you, but at least Wild Cub provides you with the necessary push to get you started.

Grade 7.7 out of 10  

Key Tracks: “Colour”, “The Water”, “Drive”, “Windows” 

Published by Mountain Views News on August 25th, 2012
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v06/htm/n34/p11.htm