Tired Youth is an indie rock duo based in Springfield, MO. They’ve been writing songs since their early teens and have been recording the album on and off for the past couple of years, but time under lockdown had provided them the time they needed to finish it. The finished product is their debut album Separate Ways, a ten-track collection of songs that progress from when they first started recording the album when they were teenagers and writing songs about their relationships and love. Gradually, over time as these relationships fizzled, the songs began to document these fissures since this was what they were going through at the time. With a sound that feels very pop punk-inspired with dashes of folk and indie in the mixture, Tired Youth brings the energy from emo and punk bands from the ‘90s and ‘00s and gives you a combination of these tried and true sounds mixed in with their undeniably youthful but raw energy.
Separate Ways gets going with the title track “Separate Ways,” where sparse finger-picking on the acoustic guitar makes up the sound here as some vocals with a hushed expectancy makes for a very lullaby-like feel. The feeling is very intimate and heartfelt. “Love” immediately segues from the previous track where the sounds of the ukulele and piano made for a slow burning sound. This was an up-close-and-personal performance that showed more of the band’s intimate side. Some dissonance on the piano keys made for an off-kilter vibe. I thought the discord was a strange way to transition to the different parts of the song, but I began to feel it worked in certain instances. Some sparse guitar riffs sound out on “Jerk.” Slowly a drumming joins in, as more guitars round out the sound. Some horns add some more ‘umph.’ The vocals are shouted out in a very punk-inspired fashion but are nearly buried in the mix. Perhaps more fidelity in this arena could help balance out the sounds. More guitars make up the sound on “I Care.” The vocals sounded loud and clear here, which I appreciated. This was a marked difference from the previous song. There was a bluesy flourish to this track that sounded great. I loved the simple but raw energy. Right off the bat, the music comes right in on “It’s You.” The energy of this song feels contagious. The track was an adrenaline rush right from the get-go with great grooves and riffs. The acoustic guitar continues its melody on “Needed You.” Next, some emotional vocals reel in the sounds. As the singer bares all, I was reminded of the Plain White T’s. There was just something to their minimalistic acoustic ballad style that recalled the Illinois-based alternative rock band. On “Sleep,” a combination of guitars and bass makes for a subdued sound. As the vocals enter, this seemed to be more in the ballad form. The emotive power of this song just builds and builds as a drumming beat follows. I loved the energy and full-powered delivery here. This was a definite highlight. The intro track returns here for a reprise with “Separate Ways (Reprise),” where the ukulele finger-picking sounds off with subdued, whispery vocals that brings back that hushed lullaby sound. The sound of the ukulele continues on “The End.” The vocals come through and you can definitely hear the heartbreak in the singer’s vocals. The band finishes the album with a breakup song, clinching this closer with a slower burning energy. To my ears, the band had a great energy that I couldn’t get away from. With that being said, the band sounded young, like they were just getting started, recreating the sounds they grew up listening to as teenagers. There was also something very coming-of-age to these songs that made them feel earnest. As you listen to the record, you can sense the band’s progression and trace their evolution as the band pretty much grew up making these songs. Though a long time coming, Tired Youth’s debut album is finally here and we can’t be happier to see it arrive. Fans of the ‘90s and ‘00s pop punk scene and folk and indie rock will find something to appreciate. I look forward to seeing where they go from here.
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