Shining A Spotlight: Yours Truly

It's a fact of life that no matter how wide you spread your wings, no matter how much you try to hear, there will always be music that slips past you. There's no getting around that fact. There are a set number of albums I can listen to in a given year, and there are a hundred-fold more released. What I can do, though, is take a step back every now and again and look back at something I missed out on at the time that happens to deserve more of a light being shined on it. That's what we're going to do today.

Yours Truly is an Australian group that fits comfortably into a niche of the market I happen to be particularly fond of. They are an alternative/pop-punk band who have plenty of crunchy guitars, sticky hooks, and a singer who can sound both beautiful and energetic at the same time. Over the last couple of years I have reviewed and talked about an ever-growing number of bands in this style, and Yours Truly fits in as having as much potential as any of them.

Last year saw the release of their EP, "Too Late For Apologies". In five songs, they made a statement and proved they are a formidable young band. In a year that saw Paramore give the middle finger to their old fans that wanted to hear guitars instead of synths from before they were even born, Yours Truly fills the gap. In fact, this EP is better than any collection of songs I've ever heard from Paramore. They are consistently more engaging, and better written, than almost anything the mainstream has offered for people like me who love pop music with big guitars.

A song like "Winter" is an anthem in the making, at least for people who are slightly younger than I am. All of their material is bristling with sharp melodies and rock energy. It's a wonderful mix, and is a kind of music that stands the test of time very well.

There is a comparison I can make that is eerily apt. Yours Truly sounds, in everything from song construction to vocal tone, incredibly similar to Shiverburn. Considering that their album was nearly my #1 that year, sharing so much is a highlight of Yours Truly's approach. But that wouldn't be enough on its own. The band needs to deliver with their songs, and Yours Truly absolutely does. "Too Late For Apologies" is a great EP. In fact, it's only flaw is being a mere seventeen minutes. I'm left wanting more from them.

Fortunately, they have a new single that was released recently, "High Hopes". It picks up where the EP left off, and delivers another dose of hook-laden sugar-punk. Being able to consistently deliver great songs is the hallmark of a band that can endure. This newest song is the spark plug winter needed, and an indication than they aren't going to take any steps backwards when their next material appears.

I missed out on "Too Late For Apologies" when it first came out, but hopefully the title is not accurate. This is my apology for taking so long to find this music and talk about the potential the band has for the future. Given the songs they've released already, Yours Truly is truly a band to watch. They have everything I love about rock music, and I can't wait to hear what comes next. Hopefully, it might include a bigger serving of their satisfying recipe.