Album Review: Former Member – Old Youth

Fomer Member released their debut album, Old Youth via Memory Music on Friday 13th July, the band is comprised of Jason Shevchuk, the former frontman of Kid Dynamite and None More Black, and Will Yip, whose production credits include Quicksand, The Menzingers, Circa Survive as well as previously working with the aforementioned None More Black. If you were expecting a Former Member to signal a return to Jason Shevchuk‘s punk roots then you’d be in for a surprise, whilst this is an album that maintains his unmistakable style it’s also one that embraces some unexpected influences.

Cold Open and Peanut Gallery hint at Former Member‘s previous associations with an upbeat duo of tracks that resemble a restrained version of Jason ShevChuck‘s previous outings, but from this point on Old Youth heads off into different territory with Double Scoop Of Trouble For A Cone, that heads into rockier territory with it’s satisfying glam rock stomp, before the album hits a sleazier laid back feel with Morocco At Two In The Morning. Old Youth is an album that constantly keeps you off balance, Root Notes swerves back towards None More Black‘s sound, Mendoza Line and The Fall Of Fergie Jenkins hit a perfect indie rock note before First Threshold brings the pace right down. Old Youth‘s final two tracks bring things to a close with two tracks that embody the different approaches, Prospector, a fine power pop influenced number, and the off kilter finale of Goat Of Dover.

I have no doubt that Former Member will appeal to fans of Jason Shevchuk‘s and Will Yip‘s former projects, but with Old Youth they have released an album that has a broader cross genre appeal, whilst maintaining the grit that personified Shevcuk’s previous releases, and as you’d expect given Will Yip‘s involvement this is a flawlessly produced album. Former Member somehow manage to simultaneously meet and defy your expectations, with Old Youth they have released an album that embraces punk rock, indie rock, power pop and glam rock and blends them together to create an impressive hybrid of styles.

You can purchase Old Youth on blue smoke and black splatter vinyl via Memory Music here

You can stream and purchase Old Youth via Bandcamp here