Youniverse - 'Dirty American' EP

MEMPHIS HATES YOU

MHY BANDS

GONE AND FORGOTTEN

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 Written by Drew Ryan

Youniverse
Dirty American (2010)
Drew Ryan

Originally coined Travis Cantrell & The Youniverse, Youniverse is the brainchild of a young 20-something who sings songs that he likely wrote after an Adderall-cured hangover, documenting the lifestyle many of us experience after ingesting too much french existentialism in the dirty south. While Cantrell's voice is generally the focus among 3 other instruments competing to be the loudest thing in the mix, the real muscle and contrast comes from the rhythm section. Paul Gilliam's stern and shuffling beats gel with Gil Worth's sultry smooth basslines, and the guitar acts as a sweet glaze for Cantrell and Gilliam's self-assured-yet-nervous howls, almost as if they are trying to win a Ginuwine karaoke contest in the context of a classic rock band. Dirty American is filled with equal parts self-awareness and doubt, cocksureness and humility, party and the aftermath. The charm of this record comes from the visceral made known, the shit we only drunkenly admit to our close friends but will sing to the masses with a sober conscience.

"I've been where you are before / sitting on that couch takin' in more and more" puts us in that state of simultaneous comfort and discomfort we all know, calling us on our shit but offering no solution as Cantrell trails off at the end of his stammering rant on the opening track. The record continues with lines about sleeping with scientists, pissing in bottles, passing out in bushes and blatant amorality; it's the typical shit that would offend most parents and religious leaders. Though the subject matter revolves around recreational drug use, the vulnerable human shamelessly shines through the grit and debauchery with his game face on. This record isn't so ying-and-yang for everyone…it may be difficult to see if you're on the other side of the fence. As writer (and model for the album cover) Gabriel Schnell points out, "If you can listen to songs like 'Catastrophe' or 'Chinese Coffee' and not be driven to sing along in glorious fuck-yes-ness, then you probably aren’t as dirty as I’m giving you credit, and you’re probably boring."

I'm going to be straight up with you: I am probably the most biased person to be reviewing this record. From helping engineer Matt Qualls with software troubles at the beginning of the recording process to designing the final packaging, my thumbprints are all over this record. I watched this baby grow as if I were a jealous godparent secretly wishing it was my own. But this isn't a case of narcissism or self-congratulations, this is merely an opportunity to plug a record that searches for a savior with no real intention of actually unearthing such a silly, fleeting idea. As the Youniverse triumphantly sings "there's no wrong or right" in the song "Jesus Christ," I can't help but think they've done something absolutely right.

Like this? Tweet it to your followers!

Social sharing

8 comments

Comment Link Tuesday, 04 January 2011 00:38 posted by blackberry car charger
All people deserve very good life time and loans or just commercial loan will make it much better. Because freedom depends on money state.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Comment Link Wednesday, 12 January 2011 20:49 posted by emu boots uk
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Comment Link Sunday, 13 February 2011 20:05 posted by cable stripper
You have so much knowledge about this issue, and so much passion. You also know how to make people rally behind it, obviously from the responses.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Comment Link Tuesday, 15 March 2011 02:37 posted by Bean milk machine mould
Hallo, always excellent to see other people today from the hole world in my browsing, I genuinely appreciate the time it must have taken to set together this great site.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Comment Link Thursday, 11 August 2011 03:39 posted by Gucci on sale
Great blog, just looking around some blogs, seems a pretty nice platform you are using. I'm currently using Wordpress for a few of my sites but looking to change one of them over to a platform similar to yours as a trial run. Anything in particular you would recommend about it?
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Comment Link Thursday, 12 January 2012 06:40 posted by Bingo generator
Hi..... I like this article so much. Its a great information which you share by an Article. Thanks for sharing this useful info. Keep it up.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Comment Link Tuesday, 07 February 2012 23:03 posted by bvlgari diagono
Wonderful post, very informative. You must continue your writing and I will be here reading your blog quite a lot in the future. I can’t wait to read your next wonderful post. thank you
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Comment Link Sunday, 19 February 2012 10:08 posted by Cialis
This is Such a nice blog, I would love to read more of your interesting ideas! You are so cool!
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it