Yahtzee Brown is caught in the middle of his youth and adulthood on ‘You Got This’

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Recommended Tracks: “I Guess I’m Sorry,” “Watching Over You,” “Sidelines”
Artists You Might Like:
Catfish and the Bottlemen, Slumber, Wilco

When it comes to life in your 20s, there are mixed reviews. Some say that it’s the greatest years of your life, while others say that they are the worst. Having just come out of my 20s, I can understand both sides. Basically, a lot of growing up happens in those years. You win some, you lose some, and you get to a point where you figure out what is worth living for and what is worth losing. There were definitely times when I heard, “You got this!” either from myself or from others. So, it seems right that Yahtzee Brown would give this name to his debut album. On You Got This, he highlights those ever-influential and enigmatic 20s, examining what it is like to leave adolescence behind and embrace adulthood.

There are songs on You Got This that cater to the naïve and messy parts of young adulthood, whether it’s finding out who to hang out with or trying to keep everything together. On opening track, “Take It Back,” Yahtzee Brown attempts to move on from his past. The indie rock sensibilities, like the sunny guitars and dreamy synth lines, give the track a youthful vibe, especially when set against the mischievous lyrics. In the end, he asks, “Why can’t I take it back?” wishing that the trouble that plagues his past never happened. A similar vibe comes across on “Big Friday,” but instead of Yahtzee Brown getting lost in his feels, he casts them away. He paints clear visuals through lyrics like, “Take the bus / When your license expires / Cigarettes / Sunglasses behind them,” observing the world around him. Still, by the time he sings, “Big Friday, roll me up / And take your time,” we know that he is over this scene. He is ready to have some fun, which we hear on “Watching Over You.” Its high-energy feel just yearns for a good time. As we hear, “Telephone bills and looks that kill / Scrap your plans, throw them out, give me your chills,” we want to drop all responsibilities and venture off into the unknown.

Elsewhere on the album are tracks that have a little more weight to them, as they focus on complications in relationships. On “Dad Rock,” Yahtzee Brown shows us vulnerability and desperation, as heard in his strained vocals and downhearted lyrics. He opens up about life without someone, singing, “Most the time / I do this new thing / Where I sit / In the yard / By the tire swing / That’s where I drink / Listen to tapes / And I think / All about you.” There is also “I Guess I’m Sorry,” where the desperation is traded in for indifference. Guided by compelling guitar lines, Yahtzee Brown walks us through a fallout. Based on the title of the track, we can tell that the impact is not too grand, which comes through in lines like, “I sold all your stuff / I sold all the pictures / Made a few bucks / And I spent it on drugs.” His feelings are more pronounced on “Sidelines.” The emotion just spills out of Yahtzee Brown as he calls out someone close to him. Over the strings and piano, he sings, “I’m sick and tired of the stuff that you put on me / And you’re holding hands with every sad fucking kid in a 50-mile radius,” openly showing his hurt and disappointment.

We then have three tracks that are more forward-thinking, more open to whatever comes next. Anyone can apply meaning to “I Am Waiting,” where Yahtzee Brown claims, “I am waiting for someone to come out of somewhere.” The track has a broad quality to it, pairing well with the vague style of the lyrics. When we get to “Halloween,” Yahtzee Brown reminisces on a memory without revealing too much. He leaves the track open to interpretation yet again, which is a strong aspect of storytelling. Yet, the stretched out lines, acoustic strums, and decorative “Oohs” impart a dejected mood, informing the listener how to feel. The closing track, “Weeks,” is not as lonely, but its acoustic-based sound does capture some of that isolation on “Halloween.” The track plays out like a confession, as Yahtzee Brown sings lines like, “Spent eight weeks in a home / No salvation for my soul / I always believed in the Lord above / Got nobody I can call my own.” Overall, he is seeking truth, and very much seeking someone to “come and bring me home” at the end of the day.

All in all, You Got This is caught right in the middle of youth and adulthood. Listeners will be able to feel the complicated duality of staying young while growing up, as this duality is heard in the lyrics and spread out in the music. There are songs on the album for those who want to take chances or spend time with friends and songs for those who have felt heartbreak or have questioned their place in the universe. Yahtzee Brown shows us the parts of life that are happy, confusing, lonely, hopeful – the parts that have us whispering or screaming, “You got this!” when we need to hear it most.

You can listen to You Got This here.

Keep up with Yahtzee Brown: Instagram // Facebook //  TikTok // YouTube

Christine Sloman
Christine Slomanhttps://linktr.ee/christine.sloman
Writer for Melodic Mag since 2018. Music lover since always.

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