The Positions

The Positions is the debut studio album by Australian alternative band Gang of Youths. The album was released on 17 April 2015 and debuted at number 5 on the ARIA Charts. 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]

The Positions
Studio album by Gang of Youths
Released	17 April 2015
Genre	Indie rock
Length	60:25
Label	Mosy Recordings / Sony Music Australia
Producer	Kevin McMahon, Gang Of Youths
Gang of Youths chronology
The Positions (2015) Let Me Be Clear (2016)
Singles from The Positions
"Poison Drum" Released: 1 May 2014 "Radioface" Released: 13 March 2015 "Magnolia" Released: 17 April 2015

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.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Rolling Stone Australia	[4]
The Music AU	[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 albums "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
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.	Title	Length
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

Charts

Chart (2015)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[5]	5

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[6]	Gold	35,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Label	Catalogue
Australia	17 April 2015 [7][8][9]	CD digital download Vinyl	Mosy Recordings / Sony Music Australia	88875071512
	4 August 2017[10]	Limited Edition Gold Vinyl	Sony Music Australia	88985460821
	8 March 2019[11]	Limited Edition Orange Vinyl	Sony Music Australia

References

1. Clerke, Roshan (15 April 2015). "Gang Of Youths - The Positions". The Music AU. 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". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
5. "Australiancharts.com – Gang of Youth – The Positions". Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
6. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
7. "CD The Positions (Album)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
8. "The Positions by Gang of Youths on Apple Music". Apple Inc. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
9. "Positions, The (180gm Vinyl)(Album)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
10. "Positions, The (Limited Edition Gold Vinyl) (Reissue)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
11. "Gang of Youths' The Positions Re-Issued Today on Orange Vinyl – Deepest Sighs - Gang of Youths fan site". Deepest Sighs. 2019-03-08. Retrieved 2019-04-14.