The Positions

''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".

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

Upon release of the album, frontman Dave 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."

Critical reception

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." Roshan Clerke of The Music AU praised the album's "concrete vision" and said "...Leaupepe writes some of the most empowering sentiments to be found in modern rock music."

Track listing

All tracks are written by David Le'aupepe.

''S''tandard edition

# "Vital Signs" – 7:23
# "Poison Drum" – 6:26
# "The Diving Bell" – 4:53
# "Restraint & Release" – 4:41
# "Magnolia" – 5:11
# "Kansas" – 4:08
# "Knuckles White Dry" – 6:10
# "Radioface" – 6:52
# "Sjamboksa" – 7:12
# "The Overpass" – 7:29

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

# "Strange Diseases" (Early Demo) – 7:23
# "Evangelists" – 6:26
# "A Sudden Light" (Early Demo) – 4:53
# "Benevolence Riots" – 4:41
# "Lover In My Lungs" – 5:11

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes.

Musicians

Gang of Youths
* David Le'aupepe – writing, vocals , guitar , percussion , keyboard , piano , strings
* Sam O'Donnell – drums , percussion , vocals
* Jung Kim – guitar , keyboard , percussion , vocals , strings
* Max Dunn – bass guitar , percussion , vocals , strings
* Donnie Borzestowski – drums
* Joji Malani – guitar keyboard , percussion , vocals , strings

Other musicians
* Jane Scarpantoni – strings, cello
* James Felice – piano
* Kevin McMahon – guitar , percussion , keyboard
* Stella McMahon – percussion
* Chris Collins – percussion
* Joel van Gastel – drums
* Jamal Ruhe – guitar
* Edward M. Mackenzie – spoken vocals
* Benjamin Reisemann-Jeffrey – horns

Technical

* Greg Calbi – mastering
* Kevin McMahon – producing , engineering , mixing
* Peter Holz – engineering
* Adrian Breakspear – engineering
* Christina Thiers – engineering
* Peter Katis – mixing
* Chris Collins – producing, engineering , mixing
* Gang of Youths – producing
* Donnie Borzestowski – engineering
* Jung Kim – engineering
* David Le'aupepe – engineering
* Joji Malani – engineering
* Nora Wever – engineering
* Karl Cashwell – engineering , mixing
* David J. Andrew – engineering

Artwork

* Rachela Nardella – photography
* Callum van de Mortel – photography
* Nathan Johnson – artwork design

Charts

Certifications

Release history

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Positions
2015 debut albums
Gang of Youths albums
Albums produced by Gang of Youths
Albums produced by Kevin McMahon (musician)
Sony Music Australia albums