Dairyland Youth

“DY wouldn’t look out of place on Lookout Records. Melodic punk songs about screwed up love situations. The slightly rough production adds to an appeal of this release.” - Maximum Rock N Roll

The sound goes back to the early 80’s, raw, catchy hardcore reminiscent of Final Conflict, done with energy and sincerity. Lyrics cover nearly everything imaginable topic, from child abuse to fruit spiked with cyanide, all with catchy sing-along choruses that seem to stick in your head forever. Comes with a lyric book too. Punk lives after all. - Optophobia

Out of the rubbage comes a forgotten band. For a nine song tape, you can’t go wrong for a buck fifty. It sounds like a cross between the Descendants and Mr. T Experience. Cool. - 50/50 magazine

Local band via Wisconsin Dairyland Youth formed in the late '80s gaining some success in the mid '90s, touring the Midwest, West Coast and helped to launch local Twin Cities label Catlick Records (Landing Gear, Careers in Modeling). After an extended hiatus Dairyland reformed to come back with a stellar rock album, Re:Volting. Bred out of all the elements that make rock music rock, Re:Volting's drums thunder over dense, distorted guitars and clever, angsty pop lyrics that hook you in as soon as the fuzz pedal is stomped.

At the first listen Re:Volting feels like an outdated album trying resurrect itself from the graveyard of mid to late '90s rock, like it's trying to be something its not. But the more you listen to it, the more the intricacies of the well crafted guitar riffs grow on you like little vines and you realize its just being itself. A rock album. One listen quickly turns into ten. From the opening track to the finish, the record never takes its foot off the gas. It may ease off a bit, but no song gets away without being saturated with distorted energy. "C'mon, Yeah, Yeah" is pure, unabashed pop rock complete with a jangling tambourine carrying through to the chorus that tells you they'll "show you how." How to rock? It's hard not to sing along to the c'mon yeah, yeahs that call and respond to a screeching guitar.

"105.9 degrees" is a stand out track that builds from a steady, calm, rolling guitar and swells into a tearing solo that should necessitate a great guitar solo face. You know the one. "When it Rains" downshifts to a mid-tempo rock song that's catchy, but there is NO need for the wailing saxophone that comes in and out of the song. No other instrument should be used with more caution in rock music than the saxophone and it does not belong here. However, "Hot Rock 2008" cleans the slate with a blatant rip off of '70s greats Boston, with a prevailing rock organ that builds into a tidal wave of aural euphoria. This is a perfect homage to classic rock and could easily be placed in an updated version of Dazed and Confused.

Later, free-for-all rockers like "Monkey Repellant Pants" and "Wired" crank up the juice as fun, energetic tunes that seem to be written for the listeners with ADD. "Sunday Morning Hangs" and "Backward Skate Only" finish off Re:Volting with a hint of nostalgia, allowing you to contemplate and take in the great record you just finished digesting.

With time and experience comes wisdom. Dairyland Youth have used their time wisely to put together a solid album that is rife with guitar hooks and classic alt-rock sensibilities that doesn't take itself too serious, but enough to leave you wanting more. - Rift Magazine

"Just in time for their 20th Anniversary, and a mere seven years after they began recording it, the Germantown college-rock oddities Dairyland Youth have finally finished their reunion record. Save for the cleaner recording quality, the band's new "Re:Volting" sounds little changed from the band's early cassette releases. These upbeat songs still ring with Sonic Youth's detached potency, Husker Du's punky hooks and The Lemonheads' chiming, mumbled melodies. It's music straight out of a time capsule, but music that's aged well." - Shepherd Express

Call it cashing in on a dream too long deferred. When Brad Michel, Joel Gove and brothers Dave and Dan West-otherwise known as Dairyland Youth-took to the Shank Hall stage last night for their first show together in more than 15 years, it was maybe a pleasant surprise to almost anyone but themselves. In front of an adoring crowd and from the opening guitar licks, the Catlick stalwarts simply brought the ruckus.
With a zeal to do it live, Dairyland Youth-far removed from whatever "scene" Germantown, Wisconsin had to offer back in 1988-was clearly looking for time in a bottle and redemption for a regret that seems to have festered if only evidenced by the angst and punch the songs came out with. A sliver of snotty Johnny Rotten but more humbled and gracious to weigh toward a Joey Ramone camp, vocalist Michel tore through high octane originals such as "C'mon C'mon Yeah Yeah", "Cat Puke," and what would be the seminal moment for this listener, "Nazis at a Brat Fry."
Without question, the solidity and driving force of this controlled train wreck came by way of more than cleverly sardonic lyrics and charged antics. Put simply, these guys could play and I'm glad they did.
The band's tour de force emanated from a solid rhythm section provided by bassist Dan West and drummer Dave West and carefully sloppy riffs and hooks (cat) puked out by guitarist Joel Gove. Gove and the West boys were pure polish. They didn't lean on any tricky pedals or distortion that other's of their original time and today rely on for lack of real talent to play their instruments.
If you missed this show or the next at Bub's then you really did miss what makes their snazzy title of "Re: Volting" so aptly chosen for their new album. It was charged. Gimmick free. Gut shot rock-n'-roll. I'm sure Michel and the boys are glad to have just done it. But I was glad to be a part of it.
See you at the fortieth reunion show, DY! - Thorpedo