“Physically strong, morally straight. Positive youth, the Youth of Today!” are words no one would ever use to describe us here at The Hard Times. Nevertheless, we pooled the collective brain power of our scrawny, pessimistic old asses and came up with the 10 best Youth of Today songs.
YOT created the mold that 18 billion other youth crew bands have tried to emulate for the past 35+ years but none have done it as well or with as many muscles. And since we just stretched for a few seconds, fired down some chalky Met-Rx bars, and put on our Nike Airs and Champion hoodies, we’re ready to dive into their catalog and bust out these push-ups. GO!
10. “Thinking Straight”
It’s always so cringey when a straight edge band has the literal words “straight edge” in a song. Other than Ian MacKaye, no one should be singing those words and he sure as shit isn’t going to do it anymore. We appreciate the restraint YOT uses here in not saying it. One push-up down. Geez, that was easy. People complain about these things?
9. “Expectations”
The first song on their first album “Can’t Close My Eyes.” It’s a little rougher production-wise than their later stuff but we like the theme of telling others to get off your back. Like family, friends, or coworkers who think it’s funny to literally sit on your back while you’re trying to do a push-up. Get the fuck off of me, Greg!
8. “Make a Change”
Yes, the theme of many of their songs is some kind of vague platitude on self-improvement and mostly comes across as some kind of Tony Robbins-esque motivational speaker seminar. But can’t we all use some ambiguous encouragement to better ourselves? I mean, look at us — we’re using words like “platitude” now and just did a third push-up. Make a change!
7. “Envy”
This was the last song on their final release. Which is a shame because you can see they were headed in a new direction both musically and lyrically. The lyrics to the big pile-on gang vocals in this are “conceit false prestige!” We have no idea what that means but it sounds tough as shit when they do it.
6. “Take a Stand”
If you haven’t already made a change, had a positive outlook or broken down a few walls, you should at least be taking a stand. This has to be the toughest song with the lyrics “A real nice guy.” Speaking of taking a stand, we need to stand up for a second and walk off that fifth push-up. They still count if your chest is a foot away from the floor, right?
5. “Flame Still Burns”
Okay, our forearms, shoulders, and heads aren’t the only thing burning at the moment from push-up number six. The flame is still burning! Which flame, you ask? The flame of hardcore? The flame of being your best self? Belinda Carlisle’s “Eternal Flame”? Who cares? This song fucking smokes! Speaking of smoke, does anyone else smell burnt toast? And maybe have a metallic taste in your mouth?
4. “Positive Outlook”
It always seems like overly positive people are either making up for some bad shit in their lives or are just completely delusional. And it’s hard to stay positive in this world that is literally on fire while you’re surrounded by 8 billion self-obsessed assholes. But it’s nice to take a one-minute break from that thinking while listening to this song and pretending that everything is going to be okay.
3. “No More”
Gorilla Biscuits said “cats and dogs have all the luck” but YOT went at it a little harder. The first real militant hardcore anthem for going vegetarian/vegan. They made an actual music video for this with some ill-advised non-verbal “acting” and lots of high fives. Coincidentally, “no more” is what we are screaming at the moment.
2. “Break Down the Walls”
Okay, this is the biggie. The one everyone knows in the aging pile-ons that still happen to this day when they play it. The one Atom & His Package did a cover for on his first album (worth a listen.) But it didn’t quite top our list. Why? Maybe because all the blood has left our brains and we’re not thinking clearly anymore. Maybe we just feel like pissing off some dudes in their 50’s who still call themselves “hardcore kids.” Or maybe there is one more song that is actually better.
1. “Disengage”
If you haven’t thrown your phone across the room in a fit of rage yet after reading what was #2, congratulations. If you are still mad though hear us out: This is objectively their best song. Porcell came out of his time with Judge bringing some of that same energy and Ray is dabbling with Shelter-like philosophy and vocals but is still giving us that good growly stuff. This song rips – just like our tendons are doing on this last push-up. Can someone dial 911 for us? We’ve lost the use of our arms.