The Like Young were an American

indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...

band from

Chicago, Illinois (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, composed of Amanda and Joe Ziemba. The couple had been playing music together in various bands since 1997 (most notably

Wolfie Wolfie was an indie rock band from Champaign, Illinois. The band was active from 1996 to 2001 and toured nationally. They released three albums, an EP, and some singles before dissolving. Members went on to form The Like Young, Beaujolais, T ...

and Busytoby). They formed the Like Young in the spring of 2002, and were married in the same year. Amanda played the drums and Joe played the guitar, bass, and occasionally keyboard; both sang, though Joe—who wrote most of the songs—took lead more often.

Early releases

Later in 2002, they released their first album, a five-track EP entitled "''Looked Up" Plus Four'', with Kittridge Records. In the spring of 2003, they released their first full-length album, ''Art Contest'', on

Parasol Records Parasol Records is an American independent record label based in Urbana, Illinois. The label was founded by Geoff Merritt as an outgrowth of the catalog Parasol Mail Order (which was started in 1991). The Parasol Records banner also includes the ...

to generally positive reviews. Their next full-length album, ''So Serious'', was released in the summer of 2004 on Parasol Records. Reviews for ''So Serious'' were more positive than for ''Art Contest'', with some reviewers sharply contrasting the two. Tim Sendra of

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

wrote that "''Art Contest'' was a slab of formulaic punk-pop bereft of inspiration and hooks...''So Serious'' makes no radical changes but is about 100 percent better and less cute, more real."

''Last Secrets'' and breakup

Their final album, ''Last Secrets'', was released in 2006 on both CD and vinyl by

Polyvinyl Records In polymer chemistry, vinyl polymers are a group of polymers derived from substituted Vinyl group, vinyl () monomers. Their Polymer backbone, backbone is an extended alkane chain . In popular usage, "vinyl" refers only to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ...

. On August 27, 2006, the Like Young announced their retirement citing the need to move on and make smart decisions. In the announcement Joe mentioned that the decision was a happy one. Joe soon returned to music and released ''Love at 30'' in 2008 as

Beaujolais Beaujolais ( , ) is a French ''Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée'' (AOC) wine generally made of the Gamay grape, which has a thin skin and is low in tannins. Like most AOC wines they are not labeled varietally. Whites from the region, which mak ...

; this record addresses the end of the Ziembas' marriage. Joe relocated to

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

after 2009's ''Admirations''. In June 2011, Joe released a collection of tracks written and recorded for the Like Young from 2002 to 2006. The release, titled "Fifteen Demos," was released via his Bandcamp page. Of the release, Joe wrote, "I'm saying goodbye to The Like Young. Only this time, I'm doing so with a hug and a smile."

Discography

Albums *'' Art Contest'' (2003) *'' So Serious'' (2004) *'' Last Secrets'' (2006) *'' Fifteen Demos ''(2011) EPs *'' S.T. Monroe / The Like Young'' (split single) (2002) *'' "Looked Up" Plus Four'' (2002) *'' The Timid EP'' (2005) *'' Six at Midnight'' (2005)

References

External links

Pitchfork Media Review of ''So Serious''Punknews.org Profile of The Like YoungPunknews.org review of ''Last Secrets''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Like Young, The Indie rock musical groups from Illinois Musical groups from Chicago Rock music duos