Written by: Lexi Matuson
Hailing from Doncaster, England, Dominic Harrison, professionally known as Yungblud (stylized as YUNGBLUD) has been steadily putting out singles throughout the year of 2019. He has collaborated with everyone from Machine Gun Kelly to Travis Barker, but hasn’t put out a collection of new music since his debut album 21st Century Liability released in July of 2018. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a copy of Yungblud’s latest EP, The Underrated Youth, a week early and it did not disappoint.
“Braindead!” is the first track on the EP and it reminds me of Yungblud’s live shows — alive and in your face. This song proves that punk isn’t (brain)dead as he does what any good punk song does — criticizing society. The lyrics “I think you should clean your teeth with guilty truths and liar’s bleach” punches the listener in the gut in the best way possible.
The first single from this EP was “Parent’s”, a song with a light melody, but dark lyrics. There’s a clear melody of influences in the song, including island and rock music. The lyrics of this song are bold, especially the lyrics “if you kiss a boy, I’m gonna shoot you dead.” Yungblud manages to write one of the catchiest hooks of his career with an age old sentiment. He rejects the stigmas of previous generations, becoming a voice for the youth.
Featuring Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, “Original Me” is the latest single. It shows not only a more pop side of Yungblud, but an edgier side of Dan Reynolds. The song reaches many levels, ranging from raspy yelling to light singing in one breath. It’s one of the best songs on the EP, in my opinion, and the pair (along with five other collaborators) truly penned an anthem for the loser in all of us.
“Casual Sabotage” is a long awaited song for Yungblud fans. The song is almost a ballad, but has a bit of a trap twist. Lyrically and sonically, this is one of the heaviest songs on the album. He describes himself as a “messed up kid with sewn up lips,” a feeling that many of his listeners can relate to. The mirrored lyrics in the bridge is one of the most powerful parts of the song, leaving himself with only two options: enemies or friends.
The titular track, “Hope For The Underrated Youth”, had me wanting to sing the lyrics at the top of my lungs. He describes the expectations that the world has for the youth within the song, refusing to let others pull him down. With personal lyrics such as “my personality got fucked up by the adderall” and “just take my heart out; that’ll make it better”, it is one of the most lyrically complicated on the EP. The song is truly a spark in the darkness of despair, almost like a call to action. The song ends in the most perfect way, with Yungblud’s rasp still fresh in your ears.
The final song, “Waiting On The Weekend”, took me by surprise. Unlike any of the previous songs, this one was acoustic. It’s the closest thing to a love song of the EP, but it still isn’t quite that. The track is easy to listen to after a heavy EP. Yungblud shows off his softer side, ending the EP with a relaxing tune to process what you’ve just listened to. It ends with what sounds like a flame being blown out, signaling the end of the body of work.
The Underrated Youth is one of the best releases of the year, not quite fitting into one genre — almost like a rebellion from labels. After all, isn’t that what Yungblud is about? Not having to label yourself, but having the ability to merely be?