Weaker Youth: 'Granby likes it!'

This month's Liberator Review Crew did its number on the self-titled debut by Madison's very own progressive ska band, the Weaker Youth Ensemble. It's just that simple. The Weaker Youth Ensemble CD is available at B-Side (on State Street) and Mad City Music exchange (somewhere other than State Street).

Justin: A very solid disc, with unusually few exceptions. The sound is very different from their live shows; the production is very clean, without scrubbing away the sketchy energy of live music. The nine tracks on this album prove that the Weaker Youth are not just another tired third wave ska band ready to exploit the genre's new (again) popularity. Their guitar work is much more complex than most ska, and their percussion provides more than a backbeat to lay the horns over. They also use weird (reversed reverb-y) vocal distortion on "Wake Up (To Yourself)", an inconspicuously mixed distorted voice "Madhouse", and a catchy "So Weak!" sample on, naturally, "Weaker Youth." The disc lapses into politically preachy self-righteousness (a trait I have an Op Ivy-fostered weakness for) in certain tracks ("Wake Up", "Speech of Hate"), but this is forgivable. Not stuck in the past and not afraid to take chances, the Weaker Youth are a great, progressive ska band. And they're local. Check 'em out.

Ben G.: I was overall quite impress;ed by the disc. My tastes generally fall along the lines of harder, faster and angrier forms of music so really the album lacked what I was looking for, but that was suspected when it first began playing. The album was full of lively rhythms of sensuous ska that I actually found more enjoyable then I first suspected. My moans of disgust over reviewing a ska disc were soon quieted. By the middle of the CD I must admit to wanting to rip off my black clothes, grow out my hair and bounce about the room happily. Thankfully, however that urge was soon wisely suppressed. A few of the trucks seemed repetitive and typical of most ska I have heard in my limited exposure to this delightful form of music. Essentially, I enoyed the CD for what it was worth, and I would suggest it to anyone favoring this form of music. I disliked the fact that some of the bass lines and rhythms became redundant, but hell, that's the same with techno music so I shouldn't be hypocritical. The track that most impressed me was "Weaker Youth" which was creative, fast and enlightening. The lyrics were rather unimpressive however, but I had no expectations for such. I guess if I actively liked ska, I would purchase the album, but for me, one listening is enough.

Ben F.: Bouncy, happy, mindless. Weaker Youth's quirky sound and excellent instrumentals create a happy/bouncy mood, but the slurred, insipid, and repetitive vocals sucked. The style of the music overrode the annoying vocals though, so the gods must be crazy. The CD features wacky light upbeat music supported by a strong beat, making it great background music, but the constant repetition made it too dull to keep me entertained. Excellent ambiance music, but I'd hate to be forced to listen to it with nothing else to do.

Jim: One of the best discs I think I've ever listened to. What you've got with this CD is a combination of complex and extremely explosive ska-influenced tracks that are graced with impassioned and efficient vocals. The Weaker Youth (with the exception of their "Packer Backer" track) have written lyrics that are simple to follow, but carry strong emotions and imagery behind them. The Weaker Youth Ensemble also consistently puts their horn section to use with devastating effect, a trait I admire in pretty much any music I listen to. As a final endorsement of this disc, I'd have to say three of the tracks on Weaker Youth, ("In Confusion," "Weaker Youth" and "Cookies") are good enough that I'd buy them as singles if the whole CD wasn't for sale. I'd recommend this disc to pretty much anyone who's open-minded, and if you enjoy ska, this thing is a sure hit.

Artist: Weaker Youth Ensemble
Title: Weaker Youth Ensemble
Label: Retlin
Style: Ska

Instrumental Ska / "Intelligent" Electronic – Justin Knoll
Classic Rock – Ben Fowler
Industrial/Techno/Gothic/Funk – Ben Granby
Alternative Pop/Ska – James Norton

OVERALL