So Young, So Insane…So You, Me, And Everyone We Know

While they might be so young and insane, the fact that they are so talented and still unsigned is the first thought that comes to mind when I think of the incredibly exuberant band, You, Me, And Everyone We Know. Formed in Washington, DC in 2006, YM&EWK has put out two very witty, electric, and all-around solid pop-punk EPs in the past couple of years. Their most recent effort, So Young, So Insane, has cemented me as a huge fan of the band and proves that they are ready for bigger and better things.

I first became familiar with YM&EWK a couple years ago when I got my hands on their first EP, Party for the Grown and Sexy. Being around the same age as their 20-something singer-songwriter Ben Liebsch, there was a lot I could relate to in each of the songs, and frankly, still do. After listening to the track, “Livin’ Th’ Dream,” I felt an instant connection with their optimistically blunt lyrics, as well as their uplifting and spirited melodies:

“You’re only brave ’til you’re scared
You’re only unique until compared
To every other worthless fuck tryin’ to
Crawl into bed tonight

You can’t afford to live like this
(Yes, we can! Yes, we can!)
You can’t be dumb enough to dream so big
(Yes, we can! Yes, we can!)”

They improved on this winning formula with their 2008 release, So Young, So Insane. It begins with the extremely catchy and upbeat gem, “I Can Get Back Up Now,” which is easily one of my favorite songs of the past year. A familiar voice to punk fans, Max Bemis of Say Anything, appears late on the track to sing a very inspired verse:

“Was there something I said?
Cause there sure as hell will be now.
Was there something I said to make you doubt
I could get back up?
Cause I can get back up.”

The remainder of the disc continues to delve into the free-thinking, sexually driven mind of frontman Ben Liebsch. With plenty of refreshingly clever lyrics to sing along to, this EP will be sure to get plenty of plays on your iPod.

YM&EWK has gone through a few setbacks over their time as a band, including multiple line-up changes and a van fire while touring that put most of their belongings up in smoke (luckily, their instruments were spared). Despite these misfortunes and the so-called “pressure” of existing without a label to back them, the band continues to live by the attitude, “unsigned and just fine.” If they keep recording tunes like these, they won’t be living by that motto for much longer.

Click the album artwork below to purchase songs from Party for the Grown and Sexy and So Young, So Insane directly from iTunes:

Check out ‘I Can Get Back Up Now’ from You, Me, and Everyone We Know’s So Young, So Insane:

You, Me, and Everyone We Know – I Can Get Back Up Now

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