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 | ||||
| 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 | ||||
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| Singles from The Positions | ||||
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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
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Rolling Stone Australia |   |
| The Music AU | |
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 | |
| 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 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[6] | Gold | 35,000 |
|
*sales figures based on certification alone | ||
Release history
| Country | Date | Format | Label | Catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 17 April 2015 [7][8][9] |
|
Mosy Recordings / Sony Music Australia | 88875071512 |
| 4 August 2017[10] |
|
Sony Music Australia | 88985460821 | |
| 8 March 2019[11] | Limited Edition Orange Vinyl | Sony Music Australia |
References
- Clerke, Roshan (15 April 2015). "Gang Of Youths - The Positions". The Music AU. 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". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- "Australiancharts.com – Gang of Youth – The Positions". Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
- "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. 2019-03-08. Retrieved 2019-04-14.