"Young Fathers” – A Band Name and a Song Title

     Young Fathers is the name of a trio from Edinburgh, Scotland, but it is also the name of a song of a band from Portland, Oregon. The name connection allows us to simultaneously promote two songs we enjoy.

      The members of Young Fathers are Kayus Bankole, Graham Hastings, and Alloysious Massaquoi. While it's accurate to say that they are in Edinburgh, there are good reasons for finding it difficult to detect the connection to Scotland. Alloysious Massaquoi is originally from Liberia, Kayus Bankole has Nigerian parents, and 'G' Hastings is from the Drylaw "scheme" in north Edinburgh.

     "I Heard" by Young Fathers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youngfathers

Website: http://www.young-fathers.com/

LYRICS OF “I HEARD”

Science is eerie when you're still around

Killing ya body cos they found you out.

Calling the shots and i'm falling down.

Look at the dust explode on the ground.

I'm there, I'm there, I'm there, I'm there,

I'm there, I'm there, under, I'm there,

I'm there, I'm there, under, I've heard

I've heard, I've heard,

I've heard, I've heard.

Inside I'm feeling dirty,

Inside I'm feeling dirty,

Inside I'm feeling dirty,

It's only cos I'm hurting.

Telephone, the father sat on the arm chair with a pint and a smoke

Sure, no more back handed compliments but the dishes are still in the sink

Walk towards the door there's an empty dresser, time to bring out the duster

Left with a bone and a smile to last you a while

Rest a shore captain from your sea of travails.

Inside I'm feeling dirty,

Inside I'm feeling dirty,

Inside I'm feeling dirty,

It's only cos I'm hurting.

Science is eerie when you're still around

Killing ya body cos they found you out.

Calling the shots and I'm falling down.

Look at the dust explode on the ground

I'm there, I'm there, I'm there, I'm there,

I'm there, I'm there, under, I'm there,

I'm there, I'm there, under, I've heard

I've heard, I've heard,

I've heard, I've heard.

Inside I'm feeling dirty,

Inside I'm feeling dirty,

Inside I'm feeling dirty,

It's only cos I'm hurting.

     Typhoon is a regular visitor to Indie Obsessive. So, we will just head to the music.
     "Young Fathers" by Typhoon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearetyphoon

Website: http://www.wearetyphoon.com

LYRICS OF “YOUNG FATHERS”

I was born in September and like everything else

I can't remember

I replaced it with scenes from a film that I will never know.

And I blinked it was over

I was thinking my life would get slower

That I would sort this shit out when I'm sober.

It gets better now that you're older.

I read the scares on the front page

It says we're waiting around for an ice age

It says our comforts, they come with a price tag.

They cured the cancer but discovered a new plague.

They say just think of the children

And imagine the world that we've willed them

Is populated with weirdos to kill them

And break their hearts.

And everybody knows

That this the end

It's now fashionable

Dinner party conversation.

Now I'm as old as you were when you had me

Should I be afraid? Should I start a family?

Raise them in the wild 'cause up against the city

My love is such a small thing.

When you're young you're hot

You have your whole life before you

Everyone will adore

You'll grow up, you'll be an astronaut

Or anything you want.

What goes up, goes up in flames

And now your choices surround you

And decision confounds you

And you're pacing around the place

Shows you everything you're not.

And then the brief little romance

You committed a soul without its consent

To live a life as a form without its content.

Because young people get bored everyday

Yeah young people, young people get bored.

Never went to church, thought a song was going to save me

So I wrote a hymn on the guitar that you gave me

Singing what you spoke we built a fire just for smoking

You know hope is just a small thing.

I just called to tell you

I just called to say

Learned all your mistakes

You were my inspiration.

And it wasn't all we hoped for

But we shake it off and we say

Here's your yellow ribbon

I am your consolation.

I was born in September

And if I died today

Just know I don't regret you

Some things I can't explain.

It's a slow descent

It's a loveless place

Every goddamn day.

Let it go.

I just called to tell you

I just called to say

Learned all your mistakes

Passed down through generations.

The First 2014 Mixtape Is a Winner

     There is a "Winter Mixtape 2014" that we recommend, particularly if you enjoy Indie Pop. It is available through Noisetrade. Although it is offered as a free download, tips are accepted and they will go to a very worthy cause. At least eight of the bands having songs on the Winter Mixtape have already been introduced to Indie Obsessive. We highly recommend this collection of songs.   

     The driving force behind the collection was Charlie Lowell of Jars of Clay. Pasted below is his explanation of the project:

"Happy New Year! 2013 was an amazing year for discovering new music. I'm in a band myself, but spend lots of time scanning the music world for new and promising artists. I gathered my favorite of these "artists on the rise" and curated a digital "mixtape" for you to hopefully enjoy as much as I have. Noisetrade has been gracious to assist me in getting the mix to you, and I'm excited to give any TIPS to Blood:Water Mission, my favorite non-profit that brings clean water solutions and HIV/AIDS care and support to communities in Africa.

     Happy listening, and Cheers to 2014! - Charlie Lowell (Jars of Clay)"

January 21, 2014 update - Unfortunately, the offer has been removed!

To sample the songs, click the arrow within the embedded offer:

For convenience, we are including Soundcloud streams of some songs we favor.
     "Unbound" by CATHEDRALS" 

     "Thunder Clatter" by Wild Cub

     "Went to War" by Amason

     "Wings" by Haerts

     "The Beaty Surrounds" by Houses

Our Favorite “Youths” of Last Year

      It is common to personify a new year as a baby. The future is ahead; there's no reason to look back. To our knowledge, there are no 2014 releases to consider. So, this post will merge the day's theme of youth with the music of last year. Here are our favorite songs of 2013 that carry the title "Youth."

     Parks, Squares and Alleys is solo artist Sergei Khavro. He is based in Khabarovsk, a city in Russia about 19 miles (30 kilometers) from the border with China. That’s amazing in itself. The music of a solo artist is getting notice, despite the artist being in a city somewhat isolated from the rest of the country in which it resides, and that country is somewhat isolated from the rest of the music world. It speaks to the attractiveness of the artist’s work and the power of the Internet.
     According to his Facebook page of Parks, Squares and Alleys, Sergei is 19 years old. For the song “Youth” he is the singer and the guitarist.

The song is available at a name-your-price amount on the Bandcamp site - CLICK HERE. 
The song "Forest" is also available on Bandcamp - CLICK HERE. 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Parkssquaresandalleys

     The London-based band Daughter has been featured in Indie Obsessive, so we will merely embed their song “Youth.”

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohdaughter

Website: http://www.ohdaughter.com/

     Yes, Young Braves were in the post of December 30. But the fact is, we like their song “Youth.”

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YoungBravesUK

     The last “Youth” is from Sweden. Simian Ghost released the album “Youth” in 2012, but we failed to hear it until 2013. The three members are Sebastian Arnström, Erik Klinga, and Mathias Zachrisson.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simianghost

Website: http://www.simianghost.com/