Recently, Citizen has become of one of the biggest overnight success stories that Run For Cover Records has had the opportunity of working with. This is a genuine band who, since day one, have established themselves in the scene with a devoted fan base through their heartfelt music and emotionally-driven stage presence. With the release of the debut EP, Young States, along with a split 7-inch, with their friends and labelmates in Turnover, under their belt, Citizen are ready to reveal their true colors this summer with their first full-length album, Youth. Moving forward from where they left off on past releases, Citizen pours their heart out into this record once again with a blissful sound that combines elements of hardcore-influenced pop punk and a touch of '90s alternative rock.
Quite similar to their labelmates in both Turnover and Daylight, the first blistering track of Youth ("Roam The Room"), kicks things off with an explosive introduction that will take you on an alternative rock rollercoaster ride as it makes its transition into a softer, yet upbeat song, titled "Figure You Out". Making our way into the next track, "The Summer", which happens to be the debut single of the album, was definitely a fitting song to release first because it provides eager fans with high expectations of what to expect. With the emotionally-driven vocal and lyrical stylings of Mat Kerekes to beautifully compliment Citizen's mesmerizing and dreary melody, "The Summer" is one of the many songs on Youth that provides a blissful sense of imagery that addresses the seasonal pains of heartache.
There is no doubt that the age old saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", still holds true from the imagery of Kerekes' lyrical content within every single track on Youth. Some common ideas that have been introduced from Citizen's previous releases, including themes of coping with inadequacy and overbearing isolation, could possibly be conveyed in many songs on Youth, as well. "Sleep" is an eerie track that takes influence from these transitional emotions with the chilling lines, "Getting sick and tired of this smile that I fake every day/ I would love to speak my mind, but I can't think straight". Since these are characteristics and emotions that many young adults may endure during any transitional phase of their lives, more listeners have been able to find solace through connecting with newer bands like Citizen.
Youth also brings to the table some of the band's darkest songs to date. There are a few standalone tracks that sink in towards the halfway point of the album, which truly vent out demons that have plagued moments in Kerekes' past. This sense of enduring agony could be reflected from his cries in "The Night I Drove Alone", in which his lines "And I should have crashed the car when I was all alone and escape from all that I know", pierce right through the listener's heart. Other songs, such as "How Does It Feel?" and "Speaking With A Ghost" in particular, are also blissful tracks that provide a mesmerizing alternative rock-influenced backdrop to compliment beautifully with Kerekes' harmonies and lyrics. These are songs that truly give listeners a general grasp of the continuous maturity within the band's progressive musicianship.
With the release of Youth, Citizen introduces eager and devoted fans with a beautifully-crafted album that definitely reveals the true colors of their musicianship to its fullest potential. Musically, there are particular standout songs that engage listeners with melodic tones that will instantly make you experience whirlwind emotions and also put your mind at ease. While lyrically, this is an album that paints a dark picture with relatable themes of embracing long nights of isolation with overwhelming loneliness. Overall, Youth is an album that will definitely be receiving extensive airplay on any summer soundtrack without a doubt; proving to be one of the most innovative and blissful releases of the summer so far.
Tracklist:
1. Roam The Room
2. Figure You Out
3. The Summer
4. Sleep
5. The Night I Drove Alone
6. How Does It Feel?
7. Speaking With A Ghost
8. Your Head Got Misplaced
9. Sick And Impatient
10. Drawn Out
RIYL: Jar by Daylight, Magnolia by Turnover, Colourmeinkindness by Basement
Rating:
Written by Ryan McGrath
