How to Dress Well, Lost Youth / Lost You | Track Review 🎵

How to Dress Well (alternative singer/songwriter Tom Krell) returns with “Lost Youth / Lost You,” the promo single for upcoming album, ‘Youth’.

Tom Krell – better known as How to Dress Well – is quite intelligent.  He has a PhD – not often that recording artists pursue their education to that level.  But this isn’t about Krell’s smarts, but about his music, which is smart as well.  On his latest single “Lost Youth / Lost You,” he enlists Jack Antonoff (fun., Bleachers) to produced. Expectedly, Antonoff produces a beautiful backdrop – a canvas – for Krell to paint over vocally. 

The record opens with a hard-hitting beat, setting the tone and establishing stability.  From the first vocalized pitches, it’s clear that Krell will deliver a complete performance, characterized by sheer beauty.  He’s at his best on the chorus, particularly as he sustains lyric “again” in chilling fashion.

“I say I think I know what love is now / I think I got it figured out / but then the second that I open my mouth / I want to change my heart again / I say I think I know what love is now / I think I kinda figured it out / but then the second that I open my mouth / I’m going to change my heart again”

“Lost Youth / Lost You” tackles the topic of love.  Essentially, Krell suggests when it’s great it’s great.  When it’s not, it can add years on your age:

“And they say that love can change your heart / and brighten up that darkness and I thought that too / when I was younger / but I lost youth when I lost you”

Beyond the excellent theme, vocals, and production, there are more things that make “Lost Youth / Lost You” shine.  The harmonic scheme is simple enough, but quite effective.  One specific enhancement comes from the piercing guitar, which enters after the second chorus and “beefs up” the sound.

Final Thoughts

All in all, “Lost Youth / Lost You” is superb. The single well performed by Krell, who showcases stunning vocals. The production work is excellent, playing a key role in captivating attention in a nearly six-minute song. The subject matter, love, is tried-and-true, hence a fine choice.

How to Dress Well • Youth • Domino • Release: 9.23.16

Photo Credit: Domino