Bogdan Raczynski You're Only Young Once But You Can Be Stupid Forever
Bogdan Raczynski's You're Only Young Once But You Can Be Stupid Forever unfolds as a study in quiet reward, where minimal tracker-based production and intimate braindance echoes shape a record that balances serenity vs uncertainty. Across the review, critics—led by The Quietus—single out early pensive passages that give way to vivid peaks, suggesting the collection rewards patience rather than immediate gratification.
Professional reviews (the record earned an 80/100 consensus score from 1 professional review) praise how Raczynski pares back textures while retaining emotional grit. Reviewers consistently note the restrained, tracker-born arrangements and introspective mood; the standout tracks “yewt” and “sicksicksicks” emerge as the album's most striking moments, with “yewt” supplying a 303-style elation and “sicksicksicks” delivering pounding uncertainty. Other highlights mentioned include “The Shoe Goes on the Other Foot To-Night”, “The County of Mayo” and “Ramblin' Boy”, which contribute to the record's minimalist arc and emotional variety.
While the critical consensus leans favorable, some nuance remains: praise is careful and specific rather than hyperbolic, framing the album as a refined, introspective statement that prioritizes subtle shifts over immediate hooks. For listeners searching for the best songs on You're Only Young Once But You Can Be Stupid Forever or wondering what critics say about the record, the consensus suggests a rewarding, if understated, listening experience that showcases Raczynski's tracker mastery and stark musical focus.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
yewt
1 mention
"the elated 303 beats of ‘yewt’"— The Quietus
sicksicksicks
1 mention
"pounding uncertainty of ‘sicksicksicks’"— The Quietus
Ramblin' Boy
1 mention
"The subsequent three tracks maintain the introspective, calm, and airy texture"— The Quietus
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
The Shoe Goes on the Other Foot To-Night
The County of Mayo
Ramblin' Boy
Fifteen Years Ago
Open up Your Heart
Lost Highway
Flowers for Mama
You're Only Young Once
Kitty from Coleraine
A Long Time Away
Love's Gonna Live Here
She's Mine
The Emigration Song
The Waltz of the Angels
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 1 critic who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Bogdan Raczynski's You're Only Young Once But You Can Be Stupid Forever feels like a study in quiet reward, where the best tracks - notably “yewt” and “sicksicksicks” - deliver the album's emotional peaks. The reviewer lingers on the album's minimalism and tender, tranquil tone, arguing that early tracks set a pensive morning chill that culminates in those vigorous moments. In this voice, praise is careful and specific: the 303 elation of “yewt” and the pounding uncertainty of “sicksicksicks” register as the clearest highlights. Ultimately the best songs on the album are those that translate Raczynski's tracker-born restraint into surprising bursts of energy.
Key Points
-
The best song is the one that converts minimalist restraint into vivid emotion, notably “yewt” with its elated 303 beats.
-
The album's core strength is its minimalist, tender tone that moves from pensive calm to moments of rhythmic urgency.