ECCENTRIC, ELECTRIC: THE MOLOTOVS WASTED ON YOUTH IS A CERTIFIED SIGNIFIER OF OPTIMISM
ALBUM REVIEW | THE MOLOTOVS – WASTED ON YOUTH by Gracie Erskine
Influence within the industry is an argument posed to conflict the nature in which we determine the credibility of artist. London band, The Molotovs construct their visage from the pluckings of a time where the youth rose, freedom flew post-war, and most importantly, they looked fucking cool.
The Molotovs are championing the resurgence of Mod culture in 2026, the feeling of despair for the country battling with British identity doesn’t feel all too dissimilar from the origins of their influence.
The capital duo have already received the stamp of approval from the Modfather himself – Paul Weller. Most likely due to their pure zest for guitar music, quoting for Northern Exposure:
“£3 tickets, accessible, all age. It was lawless, 600 kids in a library, drunk, high, throwing up, but it felt like what young people should be doing.”
The Molotovs 60’s swing isn’t just their image but their hand grenade for youth culture, with their debut album Wasted On Youth is here to put power back into the hands of the kids.
The song ‘Get A Life’ kicks off immediately with a loud, rowdy energy that sounds exactly like a classic track by The Jam – fast, punchy, and full of attitude – a big two fingers to all those above and apart. The track feels like running from the corner shop through back to backs with a packet of sweets in your hand and pure adrenaline in your heart. It’s naughty, but in a cheeky way. Easily aided by the grinningly obnoxious charm of Matthew Cartlidge‘s London accent.
The bands influence seems to trickle down the mod domino effect with ‘Daydreaming’, lustring itself in a Britpop swing. Particularly one that sounds like Oasis’ ‘The Girl in The Dirty Shirt’, harvesting an opposition towards the bands influence bordering imitation.
“We want to seize the day, make change, not drift into our 30s and 40s complaining we never had the chance.” – is a heavy fuelled sentiment seeded through the album with ‘Come On Now’ prosing the antagonist as ‘dust on the shelf’.
Fiends for the acoustic gems of albums, sink your hearts back and gaze lustfully at whatever inanimate object you please. For ‘Nothing Keeps Her Away’ is a bittersweet love letter, of a fading lover. Its evocative tunnel winds a mirage of eating an ice-cream on Brighton Beach on a mournful grey day – the romantics will understand.
Whilst the world may have been asking who the fuck is Madeline? The real question is, who is ‘Geraldine’. This track is an utter time warp for the band – a time capsule to the youth of long gone. Issey Cartlidge’s backing vocals sooth amongst the kick of the track, enduring a smirk with her sibling Matthew’s remark; “we’re from the same pod, but we’re different peas“.
Confidence exudes the album in full throttle, with ‘Rhythm Of Yourself’ harvesting that rugged 60s’ guitar and self enthralled attitude that we should all take leaf from. The sibling duo juxtapose their youthful angst with a mature retrospect balancing the understanding of their ethos. Album closer ‘Today’s Gonna Be Our Day’, has all the ‘woahs’ and fun-loving charm to whisk you off into believing in better.
The album bestows a shared feeling on reflection, whether that be from the remnants of youth in the 60’s or a shared animosity fuelling vibrancy today. Whilst you might listen and think, ‘The Jam?’ Its influences do not disregard the albums ability to take you back and place you in a 60’s summer filled with hope and prosperity.
Putting your faith in the hands of two kids who just love music and who love the scene they borrow from, Wasted On Youth is a certified signifier of optimism in this regurgitating doom and gloom we call life. And most importantly, they look fucking cool…
