21. February 2025
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Media Review

Yard Act – Where’s My Utopia?

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Yard Act - Where's My Utopia?

Yard Act - Where's My Utopia?
4.1

Rating

 4.1/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Great Yard Act sound
  • Lovely storytelling

The British post-punk band Yard Act released their new album Where’s My Utopia on 1st Martch 2024 It is in fact the second album I feature of the band, after their 2022 debut one, The Overload. I really liked that release and thus looked forward to have a listen to their latest long-play.

 

Yard Act – About The Artists

Yard Act are are active since 2019. They are a quartet, consisting of James Anthony Smith (vocals), Samuel Laurence Shipstone (guitar), Ryan Andrew Needham (bass) and drummer Jay Russell. Founded in 2019, the they had their first EP Dark Days in 2021. Their debut The Overload gave the band from Leeds at least a short-time success in the British charts. They just stayed in the ranking for two weeks, but peaked second.

 

Yard Act – Where’s My Utopia? – Track by Track

The eleven song album lasts 43 minutes.

1. An Illusion

It’s a Bank Holiday so all the hospitals are shut,
guess I’ll have to saw off my own foot.
Send a letter to my son, tell him that I’m drunk again,
tell him it’s a buzz having this much fun.

You might simply listen to the groovy opener, doing something else in parallel. You might miss the hilarious sense of humor and the precise metaphoric lyrics. You might even feel that the song is quite weird and confusing. The closer you are to An Illusion, the more you will love it.

2. We Make Hits

The title of the second track is already a clear statement, ain’t it? The song is a praise on the genre of post punk and music culture. Here and there, Yard Act are pushing a bit too much and create rather confusing sections. But then, they are back to what they can do… Hits!

3. Down By The Stream

Down By The Stream is about the story of youth, about partying and all the sins you do at that age. The song feels to be surprisingly close to a hip hop song – there are even record scratch sounds in the background.A very narrative song which is having a very persuading narrative plot. That also means that you will enjoy their straight, blunt way of telling Yard Act stories.

4. The Undertow

Yard Act are using a wide range of arrangements in their songs in Where’s My Utopia?. The Underdow even features some string sounds in the background. I feel that this one could be a great song when they are back on stage. It’s so groovy and the rhythm is catching.

5. Dream Job

The next track on the album is the single release Dream Job. A great groove, a cool song, We’re on trial, but still, it’s ace, top, mint, boss, class, sweet, deece, not bad. Lovely work on the guitar side as well. Welcome to the future, the paranoia suits ya.

6. Fizzy Fish

Looking like it’s gonna be a hot one, out on the lake today.
You know it rained all day last week?

Fizzy Fish rather feels like a hip hop song again. The 3:31 minute sixth song is having a strong focus on the vocals. Again, a song, which demands you to listen to the album closely. Towards the end, it is getting very intense.

7. Petroleum

I am sure that Yard Act fans enjoy the single release Petroleum. The chorus works very well, for example. However, I am struggling with the song a bit, as – apart from that part – it pushes a bit too much for me, especially towards the end .

8. When The Laughter Stops (feat. Katy J Pearson)

For the eighth song, Yard Act collaborated with their countrywoman, pop artist Katy J. Pearson. The female voice leads to a nice new touch to the track. The song also has a nice flow. A really good musical joint venture.

9. Grifter’s Grief

The ninth track opens with a keyboard theme, before the guitars and Smith are taking over control. The stanzas have a nice groove, the chorus catches your mind. So, taste the tears and prosper or obliterate the grief. I really like that one – there is even a short children choir-alike in there.

10. Blackpool Illuminations

So, it must’ve been 1996?
We did often go to Blackpool to see the illuminations,
Probably once a year, because we didn’t live that far away,
But usually we just went for the day.
But for some reason, this year we’d gone for two nights,
And we were staying in a B&B down on the front,
And like most six year olds I was acting reckless,
Bouncing on the bed, pissing about,
Yeah like most kids I was curious,
Often exploring things shouldn’t be and putting myself in danger,
Much to the dismay of me mum and dad.

A day (or two) in Blackpool – Yard Act are telling their story about in an over seven minute song. The lyrics sheet for this song only is about three pages (in small print). Very special song, as it is more like telling a short story than a typical track with sung or rapped lyrics. The background melodic arrangement turns it into a remarkable part of Where’s My Utopia?.

11. A Vineyard for the North

Yard Act close the album with another narrative song. We’ll build a vineyard in the North is the key idea of this one, which comes with a mixture of spoken words and sung parts. Suits to the Yard Act philosophy and idea of music.

 

Yard Act – Where’s My Utopia? – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Yard Act – Where’s My Utopia? – My View

Yard Act are doing Yard Act songs. Where’s My Utopia? is full of different stories you just have to listen to. The British band is just great in telling them. Nice album, even though you cannot deny some weaker spots.

Favorite Song: The Undertow

 

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