Go Farther in Lightness

sounds like Bruce Springsteen but sadder. But also uplifting! really cool, i didnt give it much a chance, worth a relisten.

Never listened to them in spite of being in similar worlds. It's very landfill indie. Perfectly fine but doesn't really do much for me at all.

Absolutely stellar album. I'd never heard of Gang of Youths before today. Thanks OP for the recommendation!!

Favourite songs: Do Not Let Your Spirit Wane, Persevere, Let Me Down Easy, The Heart is a Muscle, Achilles Come Down, What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out?, "The Deepest Sighs, The Frankest Shadows", Le Symbolique, Fear and Trembling, Keep Me In The Open, L'imaginaire, Say Yes to Life

Least favourite songs: none, the album is perfect

5/5

It started slow and a little country and I didn't think I'd like it, but I cannot stop listening. For listens in and I'm in love with orchestral springstreen. Gorgeous songs, beautiful emotion.

Won me over once it stopped aping Springsteen and specifically The Killers, and mellowed out some, but man that all had made a horrible first impression.

Solid, like an aussie Sam Fender / Brandon Flowers hybrid, but without the bit of magic that would elevate it to being an essential listen. A good nomination, and better than many of the albums in the book!

What an album. In retrospect, this might be the best rock record of 2017. At first, it feels like a confident blend of Springsteen’s open-hearted rock and The National’s poetic introspection. But as the album progresses, the Springsteen-esque energy gives way to slower, string-laden ballads, and that journey—from swaggering to reflective—is what helps justify its nearly 80-minute runtime.

David Le’aupepe’s voice carries it all: deep, rich, emotional, and not afraid to belt it out when needed. He’s clearly been through a lot (seriously, look him up), and this album feels like a cathartic purge—ending with titles like “Our Time Is Short” and “Say Yes to Life,” it's got soul and affirmation in equal measure.

Sure, Gang of Youths cranks the grandeur knobs, and occasionally goes overboard with strings or cinematic flourishes—but the melodies, hooks, and feel-good energy are so strong, it’s hard not to get swept up. And above all, it’s performed with passion and heart. No idea how this album passed me by for so long.

Definitely the album I know the least about so far, after commercial smashes from the Weeknd & Shania Twain. Thought of Gang of Four & Young Marble Giants (Colossal Youth) from the name, but so far it’s closer in sound to Arcade Fire and Bleachers.
I guess Australian rock hasn’t broken into the Canadian mainstream as much as I thought, though they sure tried in the 80s (INXS, Crowded House)

The man can sing- the partly-screamed vocals in “Atlas Drowned” sound like a different person than the baritone of “Achilles”

I’m wishy-washy on music that is custom fit for a stadium, but as with Arcade Fire & U2, I find this very enjoyable. The emotional hills and valleys make the almost 80-min run time worth it
HL: “Fear and Trembling”, "What Can I Do If the Fire Goes Out?", “Achilles Come Down”, "The Heart is a Muscle", "Le réel", "Say Yes to Life"
later on March 31

Easy to rate these albums when they are already one of your favourites from the last 10 years, modern day masterpiece.

Remove the melodramatic strings and cut the runtime in half and... I still wouldn't like it.