The Positions

The Positions is the debut studio album by Australian alternative band Gang of Youths, released on 17 April 2015.

The Positions
Studio album by
Released17 April 2015
Studio
Length60:25
Label
Producer
  • Kevin McMahon
  • Gang of Youths
Gang of Youths chronology
The Positions
(2015)
Let Me Be Clear
(2016)
Singles from The Positions
  1. "Poison Drum"
    Released: 1 May 2014
  2. "Radioface"
    Released: 13 March 2015
  3. "Magnolia"
    Released: 17 April 2015

It debuted at number 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart.

In a press release, lead singer Dave Leaupepe said: "I was in a four-year relationship with a girl who had a terminal illness and then I made a concept album about it with my friends."[1]

At the ARIA Music Awards of 2015, the album was nominated for multiple ARIA Awards, including Breakthrough Artist, Best Rock Album and Best Cover Art.[2]

At the J Awards of 2015, the album was nominated for Australian Album of the Year.[3]

The album was certified Gold in Australia in 2018.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Rolling Stone Australia[4]
The Music[1]

Rod Yates of Rolling Stone Australia said the "record so emotionally bruised and honest that it at times feels like you're listening in on a conversation between frontman Dave Leaupepe and the girl in question" adding "the album oscillates between Kings of Leon style grandeur, Bruce Springsteen-esque storytelling and sounding like it could fall apart at any second – which, emotionally, is fitting."[4] Roshan Clerke of The Music AU praised the album's "concrete vision" and said "...Leaupepe writes some of the most empowering sentiments to be found in modern rock music."[1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by David Le’aupepe.

No.TitleLength
1."Vital Signs"7:23
2."Poison Drum"6:26
3."The Diving Bell"4:53
4."Restraint & Release"4:41
5."Magnolia"5:11
6."Kansas"4:08
7."Knuckles White Dry"6:10
8."Radioface"6:52
9."Sjamboksa"7:12
10."The Overpass"7:29
Total length:60:25
Limited Edition Bonus Disc - Juices.....B-sides & Demos
No.TitleLength
1."Strange Diseases" (Early Demo)7:23
2."Evangelists"6:26
3."A Sudden Light" (Early Demo)4:53
4."Benevolence Riots"4:41
5."Lover In My Lungs"5:11

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes.[5]

Musicians

Gang of Youths

  • David Le'aupepe – writing, vocals (all tracks), guitar (1–5, 8–10), percussion (3), keyboard (3–6), piano (5, 7), strings (5–6)
  • Sam O'Donnell – drums (2, 8, 9), percussion (3), vocals (3)
  • Jung Kim – guitar (1–4, 8–10), keyboard (1, 3–5, 8), percussion (3), vocals (3), strings (4)
  • Max Dunn – bass guitar (1–5, 8–10), percussion (3), vocals (3), strings (4)
  • Donnie Borzestowski – drums (4, 10)
  • Joji Malani – guitar (1–5, 8–10) keyboard (4, 5), percussion (3), vocals (3), strings (4–5)

Other musicians

  • Jane Scarpantoni – strings, cello (1, 7)
  • James Felice – piano (1)
  • Kevin McMahon – guitar (1, 7), percussion (2, 7), keyboard (7)
  • Stella McMahon – percussion (2)
  • Chris Collins – percussion (3)
  • Joel van Gastel – drums (3, 5)
  • Jamal Ruhe – guitar (7)
  • Edward M. Mackenzie – spoken vocals (8)
  • Benjamin Reisemann-Jeffrey – horns (8)

Technical

  • Greg Calbi – mastering (all tracks)
  • Kevin McMahon – producing 1–2, 7), engineering (1–2, 8, 10), mixing (7)
  • Peter Holz – engineering (1, 4–5, 8–10)
  • Adrian Breakspear – engineering (1, 8–10)
  • Christina Thiers – engineering (1, 4, 8–10)
  • Peter Katis – mixing (1–2, 6, 8–9)
  • Chris Collins – producing, engineering (3), mixing (3–4)
  • Gang of Youths – producing (3–6, 8–10)
  • Donnie Borzestowski – engineering (4, 10)
  • Jung Kim – engineering (4–5, 10)
  • David Le'aupepe – engineering (5–6)
  • Joji Malani – engineering (5)
  • Nora Wever – engineering (5)
  • Karl Cashwell – engineering (5), mixing (5, 10)
  • David J. Andrew – engineering (6)

Artwork

  • Rachela Nardella – photography
  • Callum van de Mortel – photography
  • Nathan Johnson – artwork design

Charts

Chart performance for The Positions
Chart (2015) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[6] 5

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[7] Gold 35,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for The Positions
Region Date Format Label Catalogue
Australia 17 April 2015[8][9][10] Mosy Recordings / Sony Music Australia 88875071512
4 August 2017[11]
  • Limited Edition Gold Vinyl
Sony Music Australia 88985460821
8 March 2019[12] Limited Edition Orange Vinyl Sony Music Australia

References

  1. Clerke, Roshan (15 April 2015). "Gang Of Youths - The Positions". The Music. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  2. "ARIA Awards History 2015". ARIA Awards. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  3. "The J Award 2015". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  4. Yates, Rod (13 April 2015). "Gang of Youths – The Positions Review". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  5. The Positions (booklet). Gang of Youths. Sony Music Australia / Mosy Recordings. 2020. 88875071512.CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. "Australiancharts.com – Gang of Youth – The Positions". Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  7. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020.
  8. "CD The Positions (Album)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  9. "The Positions by Gang of Youths on Apple Music". Apple Inc. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  10. "Positions, The (180gm Vinyl)(Album)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  11. "Positions, The (Limited Edition Gold Vinyl) (Reissue)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  12. "Gang of Youths' The Positions Re-Issued Today on Orange Vinyl – Deepest Sighs - Gang of Youths fan site". Deepest Sighs. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
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