I'm a title. Click here to YOUNGBLOOD HAWKE
'Wake Up' ★★★
Without so much as clearing their throats, Youngblood Hawke launch into Rootless and assert a boisterous sound that goes on to permeate each track. It's effervescent. It's catchy. It's repetitive, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. By adhering to a derivative pop formula, the quintet somehow manage to deliver indie gold. Backing from the West Los Angeles Children's Choir adds depth and gives the impression the record is bigger than itself; while in a bid to encompass multiple genres, tracks like Blackbeak and Live & Die have more electro inclinations. Youthful recklessness and optimism come across as strong themes that are bound to crowd-please, with Dannyboy explicitly referencing being "too young to be scared." In a sense this also encapsulates their bold artistic direction. Ultimately, the confident debut is a heady amalgam of party anthems that will enjoy short term success.
gracewilson.wix.com