The Positions
The Positions is the debut studio album by Australian alternative band Gang of Youths, released on 17 April 2015.
The Positions | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 17 April 2015 | |||
Studio | Various
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Length | 60:25 | |||
Label |
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Producer |
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Gang of Youths chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Positions | ||||
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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
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
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. | Title | Length |
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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 |
No. | Title | Length |
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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
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[7] | Gold | 35,000 |
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label | Catalogue |
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Australia | 17 April 2015[8][9][10] |
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Mosy Recordings / Sony Music Australia | 88875071512 |
4 August 2017[11] |
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Sony Music Australia | 88985460821 | |
8 March 2019[12] | Limited Edition Orange Vinyl | Sony Music Australia |
References
- Clerke, Roshan (15 April 2015). "Gang Of Youths - The Positions". The Music. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- "ARIA Awards History 2015". ARIA Awards. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- "The J Award 2015". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- Yates, Rod (13 April 2015). "Gang of Youths – The Positions Review". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- The Positions (booklet). Gang of Youths. Sony Music Australia / Mosy Recordings. 2020. 88875071512.CS1 maint: others (link)
- "Australiancharts.com – Gang of Youth – The Positions". Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020.
- "CD The Positions (Album)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- "The Positions by Gang of Youths on Apple Music". Apple Inc. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- "Positions, The (180gm Vinyl)(Album)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- "Positions, The (Limited Edition Gold Vinyl) (Reissue)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- "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.