Album Review: The Subways – Young For Eternity

Young For Eternity is the debut album by The Subways. The Hertfordshire trio consists of guitarist and vocalist Billy Lunn, bassist Charlotte Cooper and drummer Josh Morgan. After sending their demo to Glastonbury organiser Michael Eavis in 2004, the band won the chance to play the festival and more live shows including Reading and Leeds, thereby gaining more recognition. Young For Eternity is the album that made heads turn because of how a three piece band deliver such a powerful sound.

Young For Eternity begins with I Want to Hear What You Got To Say. The track starts like an acoustic number but gradually builds with the layering of drums and bass. The track is a fantastic opener as Lunn repeatedly sings “I want to hear what you’ve got to say/I want to hear what you’ve got to say” because it shows that with The Subways releasing their debut, Lunn is asking the listener what they think of Young For Eternity after working so hard to gain their recognition. Holiday is a fast song with it’s simple guitar and bass lines. The drums are hit with such ferocity, that it makes Holiday one of the more punkier songs on Young For Eternity. Holiday is such a wonderful contrast to I Want To Hear because it shows that they can pull off their explosive sound in any shape and form. Rock & Roll Queen revolves around Lunn expressing his uncontrollable feelings and desires for someone to be his rock and roll queen. Mary has similarities in concepts to Rock & Roll Queen. It is based more around strong friendships than relationships as lyrics suggest “Mary keeps me smiling even when I’m down/She let’s me stay around her place/When there’s no-one else around.” Lunn also provides a guitar solo which is a lovely feature to the song.

Young For Eternity defines how rock music should be played in this generation. As the song title suggests, it does give the listener that desire of wanting to live forever in their teenage years. Young For Eternity highlights that you should definitely appreciate your teenage years! The bridge of the track is intense which consists of a guitar riff that has a lovely groove as well as hinting at blues. Oh Yeah, once again drills this concept of appreciating your teenage years. Oh Yeah is probably one of the best tracks that The Subways have produced because the song has fantastic dynamics. There is a brilliant build up in the song before it goes into an outrageously catchy chorus “It’s your eyes that make me smile/Oh Yeah, Oh Yeah/Wasting time, hangin’ out/Oh Yeah, Oh Yeah/These teenage years well they don’t last/Oh Yeah, Oh Yeah/These teenage lips they speak too fast/Oh Yeah, Oh Yeah.” City Pavement shows why The Subways were so fresh when they burst onto the scene back in 2004 because it highlights bassist Charlotte Cooper’s melodic basslines. When it comes to being a three-piece, it is definitely important to keep all instruments prominent in the music and City Pavement pinpoints exactly why The Subways work so well as a group.

Young For Eternity is a spectacular debut album by The Subways because they prove that rock hasn’t died in this generation and that it still has a place in society. As a three-piece band, they’ve shown that they can deliver a really chaotic sound, which anyone would think might be impossible! Young For Eternity couldn’t be a better example of rock and roll music at its finest.