Youth Lagoon - afternoon live, 2011

"July", the first song we heard from Youth Lagoon bandleader Trevor Powers' debut The Year of Hibernation, was filled with emotional surges, a seemingly modest tune that made a small racket with a big-hearted finish. "Afternoon" from Year also builds gradually, but right from the opening whistled riff, it's obvious that the stakes aren't as high. Which is not a bad thing: "Afternoon" bounces and stomps along, Powers' wavering, occasionally wordless vocals constantly present throughout. It's not always easy to make out his lyrics, but that's okay-- the feeling in his music is easy to find."