FFF Preview: Cult of Youth

We continue our adoration of Fun Fun Fun Fest, as well as our suggestions, with one of my favorite acts, Cult of Youth.  The Brooklyn group is the primary project of Sean Ragon, but he’s getting by with a lot of help from his friends.  As of now, the group has released two great albums, a self-titled and the recent Love Will Prevail, which I raved about on this here site. For me, it’s really hard to pin down what Sean’s doing, with sounds ranging from punk to folk to hardcore and on.  Ragon’s voice is deep and raspy, which occasionally lends the sound to resemble a bit of a sea-shanty/pirate barroom stomp, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.  If you’re looking for something special to get into, then this is the place for you to be.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/01-Man-and-Mans-Ruin-1.mp3]

Download:Cult of Youth – Man and Man’s Ruin [MP3]

Cult of Youth play Sunday at 1:30 PM on the Black Stage. You can grab both their records from Sacred Bones!

Cult of Youth – Love Will Prevail

Rating: ★★★½☆

There seems to be a lot to the storied past and present of Sean Ragon, the lead man behind the Cult of Youth outfit, but I wonder if that’s even relevant nowadays.  Where he began is probably not nearly as important as where he’s ended up, crafting another beautiful record, Love Will Prevail, that combines elements of folk, punk and perhaps even hints of more experimental works we needn’t delve into at this point.

“Man and Man’s Ruin” begins the entire affair with a dominant strummed guitar while a tribal tom echoes in the background, setting the scene for Ragon’s deep vocal to tell the story.  For me, there’s a great bit of restraint shown in his delivery, something that came often on the last Cult of Youth record, but not quite often enough.  Of course, he can’t hold back forever, unleashing his throaty yell as a female counterpart fades in and out.  As an opener, it demonstrates a warmth on Love Will Prevail; it’s almost a quieted affair.  A similar demonstration of this touch comes in the way of “Prince of Peace,” which uses a vocal effect (recording procedure) that creates a backing group for his voice.  Personally, I’m always affected when his first grows deeper and louder in the mix.

But, while Love Will Prevail spends a great deal of its time on the softer folk side of Ragon’s influences, there’s still some punk ethos in what he does.  “Path of Total Freedom” is a short number, but it earns its inclusion here with its usage of horns atop the rocking sea shanty.  Just listening to it I can imagine my old friends stomping about as beer spills from their hands onto the floor…a nostalgic image, but a good one.  Earlier tracks such as “Garden of Delights” also provide an element of darkness that I’ve come to appreciate in Sean’s music.  The interesting bit is the electronic feedback that’s used in the middle of the track, adding that experimental touch to the group’s neo-folk-punk sound; blaring horns continue to up the ante.

While Cult of Youth definitely holds onto a heavier side of folk, I will always fawn over tracks like “To Lay With the Wolves.”  On this number, the group perfects the loud quiet loud quiet formula that’s been fashioned by their forefathers. Interestingly, it always has this live emotion to it, as if the recording process has allowed Ragon to stand before you, presenting you with his craft.  In my eyes, this is the statement track of the record, giving you hard and soft qualities, while still playing with bits of creativity that are sure to be appreciated.

In the end, Love Will Prevail is more than successful.  On many accounts, it would be easy to lump the group in as just any other folk revivalist group fronted by a former punk rocker, but there’s so much more to it.  Splashes of experimental sounds, light backing vocals and appropriate horn usage push the envelope, and in doing so allow for Cult of Youth to make a statement: they’re more than just your average neo-folk group, and we’re all better off for it.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/01-Man-and-Mans-Ruin-1.mp3]

Download:Cult of Youth – Man and Man’s Ruin [MP3]

Love Will Prevail is out now via Sacred Bones Records.

More New Tunes from Cult of Youth

One of the bands I’ve been into for some time is nearing the release of their next album, Love Will Prevail.  Cult of Youth will be releasing this record on September 4th via Sacred Bones Records, and it’s shaping up to be an improved effort that will surely have the band on everyone’s mind.  I hate to say it, but every single time I listen to the group, I can’t help but think of pirate shanties, though that’s not a bad thing in my mind.  Sean Ragon’s voice sounds like he’s hurting, which provides the emotional grab, especially when the band softens the vocals up near the end of the track.   I’m pretty sure this is going to be a big hit.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/54739054″ iframe=”true” /]

New Jam from Cult of Youth

I get it, I get it, the day is almost over.  But, as I’m slowly making my way back to the rest of the world after hours away from the Net, I caught this wonderful Cult of Youth track.  I loved the group’s self-titled debut, especially considering the vocals of leader Sean Ragon have a definite punk leaning. Still, one of the things I appreciate the band, and it’s apparent on the following track is that the group’s not really a punk band.  In fact, they’re almost more of a folk band with dabblings in psych rock and punk.  At times you can find energetic tunes in their recording, but you also find solemn gems like this tune.  Look for more great songs on the bands up-coming record, Love Will Prevail, on September 4th via Sacred Bones.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/01-Man-and-Mans-Ruin-1.mp3]

Download:Cult of Youth – Man and Man’s Ruin [MP3]

Cult of Youth – s/t

Rating: ★★★½☆

The minute we heard “New West,” the first single from the self-titled album from Cult of Youth, I’ll admit that I was more than intrigued.  It’s got a bit of a old barroom punk rock ethos, yet the more I listened to the track, the more I discovered about the band and their sound.  Sneaky strings lurked in the background, and that dirty bass line never ceased to grab me.  Dirty alcoholic punk mixed with strings you say? Yes, I do, and oh so much more.

Kicking off the record is “New West,” the aforementioned track that really piqued my interest.  Sean Ragon’s desperate growling vocals evokes a bit of spirit I long thought had disappeared. Despite the song’s desire to have this layer of grit, there’s still an uncanny beauty from the guitar parts matched with the related string instruments.  It’s quite a special track.  From here, the band really sort of keeps pace with this sort of shantie-like track, as if the band’s leading you to sea with their brash blend of folk and punk ethos.

Track four, “Casting Thorns” is when the band begins to alter the sound, creating a space for the string arrangements to really shine in the forefront.  Ragon doesn’t have the same raspy vocals, seeming more calm here as he strums the guitar.  But, there’s still a level of darkness that underlies the track, giving a bit of an angrier tint to the traditionally folk sounds apparent here. It’s this sort of change that leaves the band sort of stuck in the middle of their own sound, which has both positive and negative attributes.  “Through the Fear” even introduces a bit of horns, making the band sound increasingly dynamic.  It’s good to see that the band evolves beyond the sound that I originally noted them for upon my introduction to the group.

The latter half of the album does tire a bit, though there are some exceptional tracks hiding here. “Lorelei” has a great strummed guitar driving the song along, and Ragon’s baritone sounds incredibly haunting here, but in a manner that makes you appreciate a good spirit watching over you.  It’s the most unassuming track of this collection, and perhaps that’s why it’s so successful, or that it precedes the one misstep the band makes, that being the seven-minute sleeper, “The Lamb.”  Okay, so there are some musical elements here that are to most people’s liking, but the song could have been wrapped up much quicker, as it seemed to carry on perhaps beyond its welcome point.

All in all, Cult of Youth has done a great job with this self-titled effort, offering new fans a hint at what they’re all about, but leaving plenty of room for growth and directional jaunts in the future.  You have to appreciate a band that’s not dying to get tied down in one place, and with the diversity of this record, who knows where they’ll go, but I’m sure it will be good.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Cult-Of-Youth-New-West.mp3]

Download: Cult Of Youth – New West [MP3]

New Music from Cult of Youth

Earlier this week I got word from some friends about Cult of Youth, and just today Stereogum gave them the “Band to Watch” tag.  Their self-titled album hits the streets on February 22nd, and this is another one of those bands that appeals to both my nostalgic personality, as well as my newer tastes.  There is this dark bass line working, with an underlying sense of lighter melodies, but what gets me is the vocal.  Vocals on this single are brash and throaty, like some snotty little punk-rocker playing in some dense club.  It’s a great dichotomy, and one that should be equally as exciting for all you punks gone soft.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Cult-Of-Youth-New-West.mp3]

Download: Cult Of Youth – New West [MP3]

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