Search - Youth Brigade :: To Sell the Truth

The best complete album from one of the classic punk bands

latjoor | Madison, Wisconsin, USA | 07/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Youth Brigade is one of the oldest punk bands still playing in the USA. Through their label, BYO Records, they have been one the most important pillars of underground punk infrastructure. They are one of the only US bands still playing that stands up against the old UK punk bands. This album is definitely their best since the early 80's, and in my opinion their best ever. They sing about matters both personal and political, often critical and sometimes in despair, but a note of optimism always returns. "I Hate My Life" is an example of quintessential Youth Brigade: while the song begins talking about how bad life it is, the rousing, sing-along final refrain tells you to "be happy with what you have, most have so much less." (Incidentally, that song hidden at the end of track 14 is "What She Said," by The Smiths.) This album was released close to the time when Green Day and The Offspring broke California punk rock into the mainstream, MTV consciousness, and in "We're In" they take a crack at both "sellout" bands and those who accuse them of selling out. Once again, this album far surpasses their other, mediocre releases of recent years, and should instead be compared with their early songs such as "Look In the Mirror" or "One In Five." You should be aware that this album definitely falls in the category of California melodic hardcore, but then this band's music always has, and they always come off as unique, with plenty of brains as well as brawn. Sean Stern has one of the great punk rock singing voices, up there with Glenn Danzig's. I want to sing along every time, and with this album I don't even care if other people hear me do it."

Fast melodic sound kind of like no control

latjoor | 03/24/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this cd jams .the fast melodic songs like sick and i hate my life are top of the line. if you liked bad religions no control you'll like this"

Awesome

Gaffin | Oregon | 08/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an awesome CD, buy it, for sure, because youu will literally listen to "tomorrow" and "i hate my life" over and over and over agian, and then some more, i'd buy it just for those two, but the remaining songs are just as awesome."