It seems like nearly everyday a new Emo band hits the scene and sadly uses the same formula to achieve the same effect to win over the same scene kids and obtain the same mediocre success. The songwriting is bland and often time just cliched and the guitar pieces add no differences either. Emo as a whole seems to be in a rut, but luckily bands such as Bayside do some things different to make it seem as though it is not just a phase. Bayside consists of :
Anthony Raneri - Vocals/Guitar
Nick Ghanbarian - Bass
Jack O'Shea - Guitar/Background Vocals
John Hallihan - Drums
The album Sirens & Condolences marks their first full length album released on Victory Records. For a first time effort, this record has a lot of heart, possibly even rivaling that of some of the veterans of the genre. Now on to the review..
Sirens & Condolences
1. Masterpiece
Instantly, you're hit in the face with quick guitar riffs and fast drums. Anthony sings out a slow melody, as the guitars screech within the background. The effect is a heavier song for this band and unfortunetly, it does not live up to its name, as this is no masterpiece in the slightest. However, if you're looking for an energetic song, this is a good bet.
Rating : 6/10
2. Poison In My Veins
Following a more harmonious approach, the guitars use mute during the verses, allowing Anthony's voice to be heard more clearly as the drummer lays down a steady beat. It is a decent song, although it doesn't happen to be very memorable. The backing vocals before the guitar solo add a sort of 50s feel, which is a little different.
Rating : 5/10
3. Phone Call From Poland
Being one of the more focused songs on the album, this is my personal favorite. The vocals seem to be a little quicker than in the previous songs, and the guitar work is great at the pre-chorus. During the complete chorus, a soft "Ahh" type sound is done for use as background vocals, which creates for a great soundscape. The guitar solo contains the same feel as the rest of song, only boosting the energy level even higher before leading back into the well-written chorus.
Rating : 10/10
4. Talking Of Michelangelo
A very memorable guitar riff opens this song up, then slows down as Anthony begins to sing the first verse. "It's wonderful the pain that comes with regret," is one of the more stand-out lines found within the chorus, creating a unique lyrical contrast. This gives the song a very positive feel, as if it's possible to be hopeless yet uplifting at the same time.
Rating : 10/10
5. Alcohol And Altar Boys
Another song with an energetic start, a grungy pre-drum guitar bit. The verses of this song actually seem to sound much better than the actual chorus, which seems a little bland and does not stand out much. Even the attempted tempo change after the second chorus does little to make this song very interesting.
Rating : 4/10
6. A Synonym For Acquiesce
Besides a unique title and a few intelligent lyrics, this song does not offer anything truly different or vaguely catchy. The guitar work is rather mediocre, and Anthony takes a much softer approach to the vocals. The drumming is simple, the guitar work is slow. The line, "Take your razor/Sign your name across my wrists/So everyone will know who left me like this," is truly the only thing that stands out within this song.
Rating : 4/10
7. How To Fix Everything
A type of harpsichord intro, followed by a few powerful guitar riffs automatically bring a different sound to this song. The lyrics are heartfelt and it is easy to connect with them. The song takes awhile until the chorus is first heard, but this only seems to be more of a highlight if anything.
Rating : 8/10
8. Kellum
For a change, Anthony begins this one, accompanied by a soft guitar, until the full band follows with a quick sound. The chorus comes quickly in this song, but it happens to be one of the more catchy ones on the album. Lyrically, blame seems to be placed more on someone else rather than one's self, which is a nice change. This is one of the shorter songs, but it maintains itself as one of the better ones.
Rating : 9/10
9. If You're Bored
This song starts off very low-key and downbeat. "Make believe everyday/We make our lives seem like they're still worth living/When we found out in the end/It's only us we've been kidding," is the stand-out line in the chorus, adding clever wordplay to this song. To be honest, this song would be perfect for someone who is bored, not that it actually is boring, it just happens to capture that feeling and perfectly convey it.
Rating : 9/10
10. Just Enough To Love You
A small bass type intro begins this song but that happens to be one of the few differences from some of the other songs. The verses are quieter than the chorus, which tends to be a little predictable. The bridge actually carries the song, holding more intricate guitar parts and much more interesting lyrics.
Rating : 4/10
11. Guardrail
An interesting and high-strung guitar part opens this song. "Break your neck/Like you broke my will/The guardrail will take you home," is a clever little lyric, giving a fierce 'won't take your bull*** anymore' feel. This song makes you want to stand up for yourself rather than take the 'woe as me' attitude many Emo bands are known for. The energy in this song remains high throughout, and somehow manages to actually give the album a complete feel without having to rely on an epic 15 minute song.
Rating : 9/10
Final Rating : 7/10 or 3.5/5
The album itself does have more than a few catchy and often original songs. But even so, it falls into the same trap as many bands often do with mediocre songs filling the gaps between the true classics. The album does maintain a constant flow, but often times you're willing to break that flow to get to more interesting songs. For a first time effort, this is wonderful though, and hopefully they can only refine their talent even further. They just need to become more focused and experiment a little more and then I think they'll truly become a music power to be reckoned with.
Recommended Downloads :
Phone Call From Poland
Talking Of Michelangelo
