The Yearlings – After All the Party Years
The Yearlings are an Americana rootsy band from the Netherlands, which is already hot spot for quality Americana style music made hotter with this album: After All the Party Years. Following in the footsteps of the Jayhawks, with touches of the more reflective side of R.E.M seasoned lightly with occasional pop sonic elements, the Yearlings provide songs that are easy on the nerves. Staying true to its title After All the Party Years, we find ourselves reflecting on more mature and settled themes than perhaps we once did.
“Medicine Ball” starts the album with a bit of suspense and then the easy roots style and the melodious vocals rise and intertwine. The way the band plays takes touches of dreamscapes and blends them with Americana style, floating on the comfort of a roots rock electric guitar vibe. “Blistering Clouds” sets up an elevated mood with touches of harmonica and you can feel the sun peeking through the clouds.
“At My Table” brings organ swirl keyboard sounds weaving into the electric guitars and a bit of a subdued reflection of the one who sits at your table. Later in “End Game” the riffs are hooky in a low key respectable fashion as the song addresses modern games: “my words are faltering / you choose the place to hide / come on and count to ten.”
For the majority of the time, the album stays on the upbeat and showcases the band’s electric roots modus operandi and their tendency to disarm their audience with enough energy to make them smile through the occasional shadows. The instruments co-exist with one rootsy common goal, like a rock band, but they also lean toward dreamscapes sonically, so that’s the indie folk side. Overall, an indie folk, roots rock band.
Check them our further here: http://www.theyearlings.nl
The Yearlings are Herman Gaaff on bass; Léon Geuyen on drums; Niels Goudswaard on vocals, acoustic guitars, harmonica, and tambourine; Olaf Koeneman on vocals, guitars, mandolin, and keyboards; Bertram Mourits on slide guitar, pedal steel, and keyboards. Background vocals were sung by Jordi Langelaan on “Live with Laughter.”
All the Party Years was mixed by Jordi and Olaf at Barn in the Meadow and mastered by Darius van Helfteren at Amsterdam Mastering. Sleeve photos were taken by Olaf and Léon and band photo is by René Martens; the design and image editing were courtesy of Patrick Tersteeg.
All songs were written by Koeneman. Drums and bass were recorded by Herman Gaaff at Stand-by R’n’R Services in Soest. Vocals and percussion were recorded by Jordi Langelaan at Barn in the Meadow in Benschop. Contact: info@theyearlings.nl