The Positions
Studio album by
Gang of Youths
Released17 April 2015
StudioSterling Sound (New York City)
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: 19 March 2015
  3. "Magnolia"
    Released: 13 August 2015

The Positions is the debut studio album by Australian alternative rock band Gang of Youths, released on 17 April 2015. The album debuted at number five on the ARIA Albums Chart and was preceded by three singles including "Magnolia", which has been described as the band's "breakthrough hit".[1] Upon release of the album, frontman David Le'aupepe 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."[2]

The album debuted was nominated for multiple ARIA Awards including Breakthrough Artist, Best Rock Album and Best Cover Art.[3] At the J Awards of 2015, the album was nominated for Australian Album of the Year.[4]

In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked The Positions at number 89 in their list of the 200 greatest Australian albums of all time.[5]

Production and recording

The Positions was recorded over three years, and its sound, according to frontman David Le'aupepe, reflects the struggles he went through in that time: "I went through a marriage breakdown, a suicide attempt, drug problem, and everything during the middle of it so the record reflect a lot of that." He continued: "There’s grime where there should be grime, there’s perfection where there should be perfection."[6]

The release of The Positions had seen persistent delays, with Le'aupepe admitting pre-release: "Every single fucking time we’re putting the final touches on the record we just veer away from it".[7] In an interview with Life Without Andy, the frontman said "other than ‘Kansas’ virtually every song on the recording was a holy pain in the ass to finish". He specifically pointed to "Radioface" and "The Overpass" as tracks that had to constantly be re-recorded. "The Diving Bell" had been initially scrapped in 2013.[8]

With a "sprawling and expansive" production, the average track length on The Positions is six minutes.[9]

Release

Gang of Youths released the lead single "Poison Drum" on 1 May 2014. It was supported by a music video and two headline shows.[10] On 19 March 2015, "Radioface" followed, with the announcement that their debut studio album, The Positions, would release on 17 April.[11] The band released a video for the third single, "Magnolia", on 13 August 2015.[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The AU Review9/10[13]
Rolling Stone Australia[14]
The Sydney Morning Herald[9]
The Music[2]

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 Le'aupepe 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."[14]

Roshan Clerke of The Music praised the album's "concrete vision" and said "Leaupepe writes some of the most empowering sentiments to be found in modern rock music."[2] Writing for Renowned for Sound, Joseph Earp concluded "as a towering homage to the inner life of the teenage, The Positions is a triumph", and an "exceptionally assured release from a band destined for some very good things."[15]

Track listing

All tracks are written by David Le'aupepe.

Standard edition

  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

Bonus disc - Juices..... B-sides & Demos

  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.[16]

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 (1–10)
  • 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)[17] 5

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[18] Gold 35,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for The Positions
Region Date Format Label Edition Ref.
Australia 17 April 2015
Standard [19][20][21]
4 August 2017 LP (gold) Sony Limited [22]
8 March 2019 LP (orange) [23]

References

  1. ↑ "The 10 biggest hits from Sydney rock legends Gang Of Youths". Tone Deaf. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Clerke, Roshan (15 April 2015). "Gang Of Youths - The Positions". The Music. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  3. ↑ "ARIA Awards History 2015". ARIA Awards. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  4. ↑ "The J Award 2015". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  5. ↑ Brancatisano, Gloria (29 January 2023). "Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Australian Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  6. ↑ Shackleford, Tom (18 November 2015). "Interview: Gang of Youths". Pancakes and Whiskey. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  7. ↑ Apter, Liam (12 July 2023). "Interview - Gang Of Youths". Pilerats. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  8. ↑ "Interview: Gang Of Youths & Their Debut LP Release". Life Without Andy. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  9. 1 2 Delaney, Colin (29 May 2015). "THE POSITIONS (Sony)". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 12.
  10. ↑ "Gang Of Youths Drop 'Poison Drum' Clip And Headline Dates". The Music. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  11. ↑ Stillman, Nick (19 March 2015). "Gang of Youths give us the first taste of their debut album with Radioface". Happy Mag. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  12. ↑ "Gang Of Youths Release Video For 'Magnolia'". Universal Music Publishing Group. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  13. ↑ Angeles, Jana (18 April 2015). "Album Review: Gang of Youths – The Positions (2015 LP)". The AU Review. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  14. 1 2 Yates, Rod (13 April 2015). "Gang of Youths – The Positions Review". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  15. ↑ Earp, Joseph (12 July 2023). "Album Review: Gang of Youths – The Positions". Renowned for Sound. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  16. ↑ The Positions (booklet). Gang of Youths. Sony Music Australia / Mosy Recordings. 2015. 88875071512.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Gang of Youth – The Positions". Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  18. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  19. ↑ "CD The Positions (Album)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  20. ↑ "The Positions by Gang of Youths on Apple Music". Apple Inc. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  21. ↑ "Positions, The (180gm Vinyl) (Album)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  22. ↑ "Positions, The (Limited Edition Gold Vinyl) (Reissue)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  23. ↑ "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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