Artist: Youth Group
Album: Casino Twilight Dogs
Label: Epitaph
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: January 30, 2007

Overall: 9.0
Music: 9.0
Lyrics: 8.5
Production: 9.0

I’ll admit, I only got interested in this Aussie indie band after they exploded into the US market via an awe-inspiringly well-polished cover of 80s pop hit “Forever Young�. I’d heard a song or two before that, but only in passing. Recently I was listening to a local public radio station that plays the latest from the underground and independent music scenes when “Start Today Tomorrow� came on. I immediately knew that I was familiar with the band, but I couldn’t quite place it. The US release, put out on Epitaph, kicks off with “On a String� which is at times reminiscent of a mellow Shins song. Though Youth Group occasionally falters at providing something spankin’ new to the indie scene (but really not many within any “scene� succeed at this venture), they make up for it with the diversity of their music. They lack the power of Death Cab for Cutie, among others, to make listeners know on the first listen of any song that it is a creation of the band. Perhaps, however, this is their strength; not only is the new album novel for old fans, but all fans, old and new alike, will be impressed by the variety of music on this disc.

Tracklisting:
1. On A String
2. Sorry
3. Catching And Killing
4. Dead Zoo
5. Under The Underpass
6. Sicily
7. Daisy Chains
8. Forever Young
9. Start Today Tomorrow
10. The Destruction Of Laurel Canyon
11. TJ