Young Culture brings a fresh take on their well-known sound with their newest full-length album, You Had to Be There.  The New York-based trio has always given sunshine in a song, bottling up every high-vibe emotion to pour into the ears of pop-punk fans through their writing. The band focuses greatly on the positive side of everything they put forward, pairing with upbeat instrumentals and melodies to match, and this record is no exception. 

Produced to full potential, each track will leave its listeners dancing like all of our favorite Warped Tour bands did in our teen years. There are perfect amounts of new pop elements added to the classic sound, modernizing the catchy, uplifting, summer day feeling of the album. The guitars of “Whiskey” specifically are giving Michelle Branch flashbacks with a twist, lending such an exciting and different pop nostalgic sentiment. The lyrics embody similar themes as well, providing a well-rounded wistful experience that is also incredibly imaginative. 

You Had to Be There is not only a huge step for the present-day boy band, but a definite contender for Album of the Year, being the most impressive, heartwarming LP in this realm to hit 2022 thus far. The late 90’s-early 2000’s are coming back hot and heavy, and Young Culture didn’t miss a beat in granting us a delightful spin on a collection of pieces that almost make the elder emos of the world beautifully homesick for a moment in time. 

10/10