by Gregory Heaney Originally started as a bedroom recording project by former Love as Laughter bassist Sean Ragon, Cult of Youth are a neo-folk band based out of Brooklyn. With a sound that’s dark and pastoral, the band brings to mind a darker version of the Pogues, merging effervescent acoustic guitars and thumping traditional rhythms, with Ragon’s bellowing baritone adding an ominous spin to the bouncing sound. The project made its debut as a mostly solo effort in 2008 with A Stick to Bind, a Seed to Grow, which saw a limited released on Dais. Eventually, Ragon recruited a more permanent backing band, calling upon the talents of drummer Glenn Maryansky, violinist Christiana Key, and bassist Micki Pellerano. With a new lineup at his disposal, Ragon expanded the band’s sound for its eponymous sophomore effort, which was released in 2011 on Sacred Bones.