Youth of Today - Break Down the Walls (USED)

Used 1997 Repressing on Orange Vinyl  Media: Near Mint (NM or M-) A nearly perfect record. The record should show no obvious signs of wear. Sleeve: Very Good Plus (VG+) Youth of Today's debut full-length, Break Down the Walls, sounds like standard New York hardcore, but the enormous influence that this disc had on the straight-edge movement is almost immeasurable. Each song is a fast-paced punk slugfest, geared toward the group's angry young male fan base. The performances are sloppy but fierce, and the message is a predictable anti-establishment rant. Positivity, clean living, and the benefits of a fully vented spleen are stressed to a raw extreme, thus establishing a hardcore blueprint for the many artists who followed Youth of Today's example. Highlights include live favorites like "Make a Change" and "Stabbed In the Back." Ray Cappo maintains his vocal intensity throughout all 13 tracks (coming in at around 20 minutes), and the band follows suit with passionate performances. A must