"The kids of the future, you can see it in their eyes,
they must overcome nationality if the world is to survive.
And we'll sink with california, when it falls into the sea."
Thus, according to the 3 brothers Stern, we are all people in this together. All messed with and kicked down to the dirt by the same power, hate and corruption that effects us all. Yet, each generation of "youth" has a duty to itself to change what is wrong with the world. Sadly, this doesn't seem to really be happening, with most members of the younger generations submitting to the rat race of the blind in the mainstream scene. Still this is the philosophy of Youth Brigade; Youth is an attitude, not a lazy description of age, nor a derogative social group in the post-modern landscape to be associated in. This attitude known as youth, no matter how old one is as long as they keep the young fighter burning within them, is the action hero who will someday save our world from total annihilation.
Youth Brigade is without a doubt, the most well-known of the underground bands in the punk rock scene.
Amidst the 1980's California Punk Rock craze, Youth Brigade rose up around the same time and place as bands like; Social Distortion, Circle Jerks, Minor Threat, and Bad Religion. Though they never garnered quite as much commercial spotlight as the aforementioned(otherwise wouldn't you be able to buy out their novelty backpacks and candy at hot-topic?), they remain an extremely important contributer to the genres 1980s progression.
3 Brothers from Hollywood, California all assembled together in 1980 to take on the bigots and dualists of society.
The brothers:
Shawn Stern
Mark Stern
Adam Stern
The B.Y.O. or the "Better Youth Organization", was created in 1979 by brothers Shawn and Mark to promote punk and other younger culture's alternative bands. In 1982, B.Y.O. Records was created as an indy label to house such bands, and taking the best unheard youth bands under their wing for the royal treatment when no one else would.
In 1983(after a self-ended production of their 1st attempt) they re-released their 1st full album Sound and Fury,which contained such legendary Punk tracks as; "Fight to Unite", "Men in Blue(Part 1)", "Did You Wanna Die", and above all, their personal anthem and signature song:
The band would later go through many variations in lineup(most notably the loss of Adam Stern in 1985 due to he choosing to go back art school to finish his degree) but their sound and attitude would remain untouched by any temptation to sell out or change.
Current Members:
Shawn Stern(Lead Vocals/Guitar)
Mark Stern(Drums)
John Carey(Guitar/Backing Vocals)
Joey "Balls" Garibaldi(Bass/Backing Vocals)
Youth Brigade's sound is different from most punk bands in general. 1st of all, Shawn's voice when singing is a deep, vibrato emitting decibel. Both very understandable, but most importantly, powerful in its intended emotion. With Shawn's voice comes back-up singing as well from the rest of the band(minus Mark on drums). The progressive force felt from the added layer of vocals gives off a strong feeling of energy, which only makes the band's already powerful lyrics and sound that much more enjoyable.
Their music is driven by a fast BUT organized tempo. The beat of each song flows out with tremendous amounts of energy as the meaning of each song can be felt through the flow of the music itself. Unlike some punk bands, another plus to Youth Brigade is that they are also a very catchy band for the most part(if it's even of concern to you at all).
One of the best examples of the above mentioned qualities of the band is found in their song, "Spies for Life" from their 1996 album, To Sell The Truth:
In 2007, B.Y.O. Records celebrated its 25th anniversary. 2 years later Let Them Know, a documentary on Youth Brigade and B.Y.O.'s history was released. The film pays tribute to the band and label who in so many ways helped to bring secret success to the punk underground.
Youth Brigade is still going on strong today. This underground punk band tours each year with shows that truly examine and personify what they mean by youth as an attitude. These guys are slowly getting grey, yet they put on a show as if they were 20. Music is their life and their ability to entertain proves that statement true.
Youth's 2009 Let Them Know Tour. Soma, San Diego with Dropkick Murphys.
2010 El Rey Theater, L.A. with The Adolescents.
Quite simply, Youth Brigade is one of the greatest punk bands of all time. Their insight into the world is comforting to those in need of reassurance that they are not crazy. Their legacy and generosity to the music world has been outstanding, yet nearly unknown. This band has had much to do with the history of the indy label and the ability to give a good guy a chance, so please listen and support these guys. As they say,
"Have you listened?
Has it helped, then i'm glad
And I want to tell you thank you,
It means everything to me"
As our world of punk is being overtaken by various mainstream imitators, we must give our respect to those remaining acts from the 70s and 80s who really helped to raise speculation and get Americans thinking about the life they live. We must support these heroes of ours with all that we've got, for as soon as this era dies out, all we'll have left is green day... I don't wanna live in that world, do you?
The twentieth century has churned out a great deal of writers and musicians alike. Tom Waits, Hank Williams Sr, and Iggy Pop being just a few of my select favorites. Each artist setting their own course and establishing foundations for succeeding generations to create new genres based on their inspirational works. Yet, aside from these tremendous examples of heart and soul, there stands one. One artist who, safe to say, has been slightly overlooked by the majority of music going civilization the past couple decades(until the last few years at least, where leaks of his work into pop culture has progressed his name to current generations). One artist, who even though coming across other musicians who's sound rings a bell, you will never find anyone who can compare with his passion. This artist I am referring to is of course, the humanistic genius, Leonard Cohen.
Without the contributations of Mr. Cohen's abilities to our world, we would not have enjoyed the full extent of Nick Cave's limit censoring song writing techniques. Tom Morello's "The Nightwatchman" project for all we know may never have happened if Cohen's influence had not been bestowed upon him. 8 time Juno award winner, Bruce Cockburn has named Cohen as a major influence on him as well. Most of all, late musical prodigy Jeff Buckley would not have astonished the world with his chart topping cover of Cohen's "Hallelujah". A native of Canada, Cohen began his successful career as a master of poetry. After he wrote 3 successful books of poems, he gained critical acclaim in canadian literacy. The acclaimed novel Beautiful Losers was written by him one year before he moved to the U.S.
It was in 1967 that Cohen would record his first album, Songs of Leonard Cohen. Strangely enough, it was Andy Warhol(Must see this genius in action!) who helped Leonard get to where he wanted to be in the music industry.
This album would be the beginning of a legacy that would help progress the genre of folk to new mediums. Covering the topics of love, the human drive, religion, alienation, and sex with a depth in lyrics like non-other. With each song written and sung by this man, we are treated to a poetry circle spanning a distance from his homeland of Montreal to as far as the mind can venture off to(In other words, this is a universal poetry reading). When listening to his earlier tracks, you will hear an (as he describes himself in one such song; So long, Marianne)almost young man as he cryptically educates your outlook on life, as if this man has experienced the world several times over at the age of 27 and on. Passion and Feeling radiate from Leonard Cohen's words when sent through the transformation from poem to sonata. You cannot help but feel for him when he sings one of his many songs depicting the silent horrors of love and how they have treated him in various ways. You begin to cherish a song before it ends, for since the song would describe a farewell moment of his life, you know you would then miss somebody you don't know.
"I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm,
your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm,
yes, many loved before us, I know that we are not new,
in city and in forest they smiled like me and you,
but now it's come to distances and both of us must try,
your eyes are soft with sorrow,
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye."
A man who has lived a life of depression, love sickness and utmost curiosity for understanding the ways of the world, being touched by his lyrics is not hard nor rare at all. Though there are other contemporaries such as; Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, and Kris Kristofferson, Leonard Cohen is simply different. His less-commercialized image, mixed with his complex and sometimes confusing to the untrained ear lyrics have given Cohen more of a cult following than the above mentioned artists. This of course, gives Cohen a very strong fan base as apposed to a few people who listen to his work because they are well known and catchy tunes.
"Any startling piece of work has a subversive element in it, a delicious element often.
Subversion is only disagreeable when it manifests in political or social activity." -Leonard Cohen
He has since released 11 albums in his lengthy career. Every record littered with the beauty and charm of humanity at its core. A complete listing of his albums can be found here.
Releasing songs such as, "Suzanne", which is a tribute to his infatuation with his friend Armand Vaillancourt's wife, Suzanne Verdal.
"Bird on a Wire" is described by Cohen as his take on a country song, yet deeper in its history it is more than that. For it is also a song that upon writing, brought Leonard out of depression.
Perhaps one of his most powerfully felt songs(and most powerful songs ever written), "Famous Blue Raincoat", which depicts the position one is in and the crushing feeling of finding out your beloved wife has been sleeping with another. As well as the gratitude one has for lifting her spirits through the chaotic event, showing us that "as long as she's happy, that's all that matters to me" sadly implies here above all. This description of submission to self-defeat in an innocent but unsettling manner is told in the form of a letter.
This is from Leonard's 2009 world tour. Please enjoy this, for this is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard:
In the 80's - 90's, a change in Cohen's sound came to be. This was mainly due to the massive drop in his voice. His music was no longer fully acoustic either. Synthesizers and female backup singers joined him in his metamorphosis.
Bending his lyrics just slightly enough to be considered a bit of a social critic, his themes in these years would include; History, The conservation of religious values, The inequalities of social class, and The complications due to a man's aging.
During this era, he would release some of his most treasured work to this day; Including his most successful album since his first record(which to this day remains his highest grossing work).
In 1988, I'm Your Man fully revived Cohen's standing as a master of his art in the U.S., which had seen a steady decline in the late 70's. It also gave Cohen's new sound full acceptance to long time and more conservative listeners.
However, it would be his less successful 1984 release, Various Positions, which would ultimately feature(quite possibly)his single most famous work: "Hallelujah". A song about the many different variations of a hallelujah beckon, including the misguided and dark example of sensuality.
His most revered and covered track of all time, including the likes of Rufus Wainwright and the aforementioned Jeff Buckley, it would go on in a way to become Cohen's signature song.
"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." -Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen has been honored with 2 of the most prestigious merits given to Canadian citizens; The Order of Canada and The National Order of Quebec.
He has won Juno awards for both "Best Male Vocalist of the Year", and "Songwriter of the Year".
In 2008, He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame(which can be considered a mediocre way of honoring an artist of "rock and roll" due to the induction of artists such as Madonna and Run D.M.C.).
Most of all though, sometime after the initial release of his 1992 album, The Future, Cohen went into a notable seclusion, where he stayed at Mt. Baldy Zen Center for 5 years. In '96 Leonard Cohen was ordained as a Rinzai Buddhist Monk, complete with the Dharma name of "Jikan"(Silence).
Since then in the current decade, he has gone back on tour at the age of 75 years. Covering the globe and conquering Coachella in the process, Leonard Cohen does not seise to amaze his fans. 4 1/2 decades of art has flown through this man's heart and mind in order to touch, inspire and please those who wish to be taken to higher levels. On a different level of humanity himself, one can only imagine the capacity and ability this man has harnessed over his tremendously mystical time on this earth.
"In dreams the truth is learned that all good works are done in the absence of a caress." -Leonard Cohen
An amazing artist of his areas, this man has inspired me to accept and embrace the world around me with even wider arms. This saint has got me to understand that taking the concept of love for granted is not intended to be of human ability. This innovator has proved to me that one man's thesis can indeed be the entire world around him in one expressed emotion.
It is simply too shallow to say that he is just my personal favorite musical talent in this world;
He is also my mentor on the most powerful element of our universe, love, "our only engine of survival".
So, if you have not yet, give this masterful songwriter a listen. Caress his verbal euphoria with your heart as it sails into your emotions at gentle force. Feel the true feelings one's subconscious can only hope to express this perfectly as every heartbreak you've ever lived through is calmly overshadowed by the experiences of a true living tale of love once lost. Look to the future, reminisce the past, and embrace him while we can, for some day without a doubt we will see Leonard Cohen where he truly belongs;
On the top floor in The Tower of Song...
