You, Me, and Everyone We Know – So Young, So Insane
You, Me, and Everyone We Know have been on my radar since Party For The Grown and Sexy which was excellent but too similar to Fallout Boy to effectively garner my attention. With the release of So Young So Insane, which can be downloaded at absolutepunk.net, they have risen back into the limelight. So Young, So Insane is the best EP I’ve heard since the summer months, and this is a huge accomplishment for any band. The change in vocals and general tone of the music has greatly increased the originality, quickly becoming something fresh – yet maintaining the quality of their previous work.
So Young, So Insane is a summer-oriented EP that has come two years after their last recorded material. A long time to wait for fans of You, Me, and Everyone We Know, but in the end it has been worth every minute. The EP features an array of colourful melodies that are intricately and elegantly construed together. With solid guitar riffs, pleasant drums and appropriately placed synths, I was left with an overwhelming feeling of happiness.
The best part about You, Me, and Everyone We Know is the composition of their music. Take track one (I Can Get Back Up Now) for example, the intro is simple but exciting. The bells are cleverly placed and all the sounds work perfectly to create a euphoric atmosphere. It is this construction of complex melodies using simple beats that have blown me away. Besides the fantastic tune in track one, the vocals have also noticeably changed. A lot more range and a softer tone allow the vocals to easily compliment the rest of the song. I find the new sound to be similar to Motion City Soundtrack fused with The Academy Is…, bands whom I greatly admire. In short, You, Me, and Everyone We Know keeps it simple, clever and fun – all characteristics that make a great powerpop band.
Of course it’s not just the first track that blew me away, but every single second of this EP was fantastic. The second track Could It Be Sunstroke is rawer and more aggressive, making it more of a dance-rock track. An exciting song it has elements that get you rocking out, but still leaves time for a catchy chorus. The melody is a lot harder and less composed as compared to the previous track, but this matches the tone of this particular song. Could It Be Sunstroke is followed by A Sympton, which edges on the other boundary of their style by slowing things down a great deal. An homage to rock ballads from the 70s, it contains clever lyrics and thoughtful instrumentals.
After the ballad (every album has one), You Me And Everyone We Know get back to form with Colorful Language which features more of their powerpop flare. With a great chorus, and an exciting beat, it is another fantastic dance-rock track. This style will continue on through to the last two tracks to finish off what has become an incredible EP. So Young, So Insane is a completely revamped album that’s colourful and vibrant, which is all I could ask of them. It features hit after hit, with songs that will get you moving through the night like an illegal drug. I can only hope that the next full length album will be this good, but let it be clear that the bar has been set high.
Check out their Myspace for official tour dates and album info.
You Me And Everyone We Know – I Can Get Back Up Now
You Me And Everyone We Know – Could It Be Sunstroke
Tags: EP
If the band named themselves after the title of the not so long-ago movie Me and You and Everyone We Know I lose some respect for them, simply for the originality factor.