ALBUM REVIEW: Yungblud – Yungblud

This album really couldn’t be titled anything else. YUNGBLUD reclaims his name with a raw and real retrospective view. Titling an album after your own name or a stage name can be seen by some as lazy or boring but one listen to this record and it really was the only option for Dom Harrison. It feels as if he’s shed the bratty teen image he created with his first two albums and he’s really grown into himself on this latest offering.

The Funeral was the first single released and what a single it was. It is just so damn catchy that it sticks in the head for weeks after a single play. It’s gothic and dark but has a soaring chorus that is really just a bittersweet message from Harrison himself. It’s reflective and it really shows the growth the artist has gone through. Tissues follows and it intentionally sounds familiar as here YUNGBLUD samples the main riff from Close to Me by THE CURE. Fortunately, it’s not like he’s directly copied the song as everything else in the track is his own work. Harrison is clearly a fan of the band and it’s nice to see him paying homage to them with this track. Again, it’s so catchy that it’s hard not to fall in love with. It’s not as personal as the previous track as it’s more of a straight-up love song but there’s nothing wrong with that.

Next is Memories which features WILLOW who has recently stepped into the pop-punk scene and it’s really great to see Harrison helping out his fellow musician but on this track it’s hard to see who’s helping who as WILLOW puts in an amazing vocal performance. It feels perfect and not out of place in the slightest. The guitar parts are really great in this track as it really gives it a rocky edge and keeps the song driving forward.

Mad feels slightly reminiscent of his previous work but it has more of a mature feeling to it as rather than complaining or making excuses YUNGBLUD reinforces the fact that he’s going to be unapologetically himself even if he doesn’t understand why people can’t understand why. I Cry 2 is just under two minutes long and this is some of YUNGBLUD’s most mature work so far despite the short runtime. Comments about sexuality and relationships make up the song and as YUNGBLUD exclaims “I cry too” it makes us feel like he is just one of the crowd and he feels the exact same way.

Sweet Heroine is another heartfelt love song but it’s a slower one with light instrumentation. It feels as if YUNGBLUD’s vocals are more direct and more personal. It’s a relatable song and it leads in well to Sex Not Violence which is a change of pace yet still has a strong message which could be applied to some of the events happening right now.

Don’t Go follows and it feels reminiscent of his work on the sophomore album weird! except for this time it feels less cartoonish and more mature. It’s a punchy track and the vocals are strong and confident during the choruses. Up next is the euphoric Don’t Feel Like Feeling Sad Today and what a treat this track is. At only two minutes long it’s one of the best tracks on the album. It’s really the track that makes you feel like you’re part of something. It speaks to the misfits and the people who feel like they don’t belong and basically lays out the YUNGBLUD manifesto: “If you feel like you don’t belong anywhere, that’s because you belong right here with me!”

Boy In The Black Dress closes the album and it’s probably the most grown-up and mature track on the album. It basically pokes fun at masculinity and gender norms which is something YUNGBLUD has spoken strongly about in many interviews and can be seen in his previous work. It’s also about lying about things that make people sad and it’s about being honest with yourself and accepting other people no matter what. It’s such a layered song that it requires a few playthroughs to unpack everything.

Yungblud is an excellent album. It’s easily the most cohesive and mature album from him yet. It has anthems and heartfelt moments and it’s oozing with confidence and understanding of hate and battling it. No album is perfect but this comes pretty damn close.

Rating: 9/10

Yungblud is out now via Locomotion and Geffen Records.

Like YUNGBLUD on Facebook.