Youth Group

When I hear the name Youth Group I think of Umbros, creamed whistles, and Pretty Woman (It happened when I was in 6th grade; that was the youth leader's last day). What I don't think about is good indie rock. Well that's starting to change.

Youth Group is an Australian outfit that's getting all sorts of mention due to their amazing trifecta: supporting role on Death Cab for Cutie's current tour, being Ben Gibbard and Chris Walla's favoritest band, and having their cover of the 80's new wave hit Forever Young playing in the background of The O.C. (the original could be heard during the school dance scene in Napolean Dynamite). I guess that's one way to solidify indie cred. All this may have something to do with them getting picked up by my radar, but their sound is keeping them in my head.

Their second Album, Skeleton Jar, was released earlier this year and has cover art that's very reminiscent of My Morning Jacket's It Still Moves. The album as a whole isn't all that spectacular and that may be why I've been enjoying the occasional track; the entire album can run by unnoticed. Perhaps they have a bit of the poor man's syndrome (Jet a poor man's Strokes, Engelbert Humperdinck a poor man's Tom Jones), since they are so intertwined with Death Cab. Take a listen to a few tracks and decide for yourself if they are more then ipod shuffle material (which isn't a bad thing):

Youth Group - Skeleton Jar.mp3
Youth Group - Shadowland.mp3
Youth Group - Forever Young.mp3 (Alphaville Cover)