Youth of America
Encyclopedia
Youth of America is the second album by the punk
band Wipers
. The album marks a distinctive change in the band's sound. Compared to its predecessor Is This Real?
, which was composed mostly of raw, sleek and relatively traditional songs, Youth of America features much longer and complex compositions; the title track alone clocks in at over 10 minutes. This change of pace was according to Greg Sage
a deliberate counter-reaction against the trend of releasing short songs, which many punk bands did at the time. The album was, according to Sage, not well-received in the United States at the time of its release, though it did fare better in Europe. Along with other records by the Wipers, Youth of America has since come to be acknowledged as an important album in the development of American underground and independent rock movements of the early 80s.
.
Originally released on Park Ave. in 1981 and Greg Sage's label, TRAP. It was later re-issued on Backbone and Restless with different covers (and in Restless' case the wrong track sequence!). It has now been re-issued on Greg Sage
's own Zeno Records as disc 2 on The Wipers Box Set
.
The title track has been covered by The Melvins
, on their 2001 album Electroretard
and Mission of Burma
on the live album Snapshot
.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Wipers
Wipers
The Wipers were a punk rock group formed in Portland, Oregon in 1977 by guitarist Greg Sage, drummer Sam Henry and bassist Dave Koupal. Wipers were one of the earliest American purveyors of the genre, and the group's tight song structure and use of heavy distortion has been hailed as extremely...
. The album marks a distinctive change in the band's sound. Compared to its predecessor Is This Real?
Is This Real?
Is This Real? is the 1980 debut album of the punk rock band the Wipers. It was digitally remastered by Greg Sage in 2001, and released as a part of the Wipers Box Set, with the songs in a slightly different order, along with some previously unreleased tracks.The album was later re-issued on Sub Pop...
, which was composed mostly of raw, sleek and relatively traditional songs, Youth of America features much longer and complex compositions; the title track alone clocks in at over 10 minutes. This change of pace was according to Greg Sage
Greg Sage
Greg Sage was the principal songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist for the influential Portland, Oregon-based punk rock band Wipers. Greg Sage's first recording was on the pro-wrestler Beauregarde's full length album, released in 1971 . He met Beauregarde, recorded and played with him when he was only...
a deliberate counter-reaction against the trend of releasing short songs, which many punk bands did at the time. The album was, according to Sage, not well-received in the United States at the time of its release, though it did fare better in Europe. Along with other records by the Wipers, Youth of America has since come to be acknowledged as an important album in the development of American underground and independent rock movements of the early 80s.
Track listing
All songs written by Greg SageGreg Sage
Greg Sage was the principal songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist for the influential Portland, Oregon-based punk rock band Wipers. Greg Sage's first recording was on the pro-wrestler Beauregarde's full length album, released in 1971 . He met Beauregarde, recorded and played with him when he was only...
.
- "No Fair" – 4:25
- "Youth of America" – 10:30
- "Taking Too Long" – 3:05
- "Can This Be" – 2:55
- "Pushing the Extreme" – 3:15
- "When It's Over" – 6:30
Originally released on Park Ave. in 1981 and Greg Sage's label, TRAP. It was later re-issued on Backbone and Restless with different covers (and in Restless' case the wrong track sequence!). It has now been re-issued on Greg Sage
Greg Sage
Greg Sage was the principal songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist for the influential Portland, Oregon-based punk rock band Wipers. Greg Sage's first recording was on the pro-wrestler Beauregarde's full length album, released in 1971 . He met Beauregarde, recorded and played with him when he was only...
's own Zeno Records as disc 2 on The Wipers Box Set
Wipers Box Set
The Wipers Box Set is a compilation box set, and is a remastered re-release of the Wipers' first three albums: Is This Real?, Youth of America and Over the Edge. The collection includes 23 bonus tracks, including 6 never before released songs, with liner notes by Greg Sage...
.
The title track has been covered by The Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
, on their 2001 album Electroretard
Electroretard
-Track information:#"Shit Storm" - The song "Revolve" from Stoner Witch reversed with added effects and drums. The version used was from Stoner Witch and not the version featured here.#"Youth of America" - Wipers cover...
and Mission of Burma
Mission of Burma
Mission of Burma is an American post-punk band formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1979. The band was formed by Roger Miller , Clint Conley , Peter Prescott and Martin Swope...
on the live album Snapshot
Snapshot (Mission of Burma album)
Snapshot is a live album by Boston-based band Mission of Burma. It was recorded in front of a small audience at Boston's Q Division Studios for broadcast on WFNX...
.