Album Review: Yungblud - 'Idols'
The world has been at the mercy of Yungblud for many years. The candle has always burnt twice as bright with this Yorkshire-born artist, and many feared that the burn would only last half as long. Yet as he embarks on the next step of his career, the heat gets even hotter and the flames grow stronger. Enter his most ambitious effort yet. This is IDOLS.
Yungblud, the rockstar persona of Dominic Harrison, has always been a standout in the industry. Since his breakout in pink socks with 21st Century Liability, he has been the name on everyone’s lips; both in cheers and jeers. Unapologetically and unavoidably loud, the world has watched and listened as both himself and his music have matured. With IDOLS, it seems that Harrison has finally found the sound he wants his legacy to live in.
Beginning with ‘Hello Heaven Hello’, his first single from the record, Yungblud is easing everyone into this new phase of his career. It’s familiar to his previous work, yet so far detached. And the trend continues with the controlled chaos of ‘LOVESICK LULLABY’.
A tune that contains shredding guitars, spoken-word verses, yet soft harmonies scattered within to soften the blows. A song reminiscent of retro rock hits, the tunes that come and never go and open the view of Harrison’s musical influences. Taking more indie rock and Britpop elements, it shows that this is no longer that kid who is learning how hard life is. This is the man who has lived it, seen it, heard it and even tasted it.
Yungblud is all about reinvention, renovation, improvement, and a major tell of this in IDOLS is he is no longer shying away from focusing on rhythm over rowdiness in some tracks. ‘Change’ comes in midway through the record and while still containing a jaw-dropping guitar solo, it is an eye-opener. A catchy rhythmic rock tune, it shows that screeching, screaming and atonal chanting is not always a necessity when it comes to a Yungblud hit. It is a piece of art that speaks for itself. It does not need an energetic interpretation to get the message across. It just needs to be.
The best message in life, art and music is sometimes it just needs to speak for itself at its own volume, at its own pace.
The emotional range has grown deeper and more meaningful within the record also. From hopeful and brightly composed songs such as ‘Ghosts’, to the dim and dark-thought-filled tunes such as ‘War’, the feelings are harder hitting than years before. Even the two-part self-titled tracks that start and end IDOLS show a more complicated map of emotion to navigate. No matter what age someone is, how they have lived, where they have been, what they have experienced, it can be hard to put into words the leftover thoughts and impacts. Yungblud has managed to work those indescribable thoughts into his lyrics and as much as it resonates with himself, it will resonate with hundreds if not thousands of others around this cruel world.
IDOLS is the new record that Yungblud needed to make. IDOLS is the new record that Yungblud fans need to hear. As he grew up in the spotlight, his fans and most dedicated listeners grew up alongside him. Thriving in his strong-willed attitude and learning positive life lessons and social beliefs from his own publicised experiences, it was once like having a playground pal in Harrison. Now he’s a long-time companion; an acquaintance at the pub; that one neighbour they always talk to on the morning commutes.
Dominic Harrison may have grown up, but the spirit of Yungblud will never get old.
Words by Jo Cosgrove
