Emotionalpunk.com
Media Review
Music Quality: 8.5
Production: 8.0
Originality: 7.0
Tracklisting
2. Poison In My Veins
3. Phone Call From Poland
4. Talking Of Michelangelo
5. Alcohol And Altar Boys
6. A Synonym For Acquisce
7. How To Fix Everything
8. Kellum
9. If You're Bored
10. Just Enough To Love You
11. Guardrail
Wow, what a suprise. I'm not even going to try and pretend that I wasn't even slightly excited for a new Bayside record. When I heard Victory had signed them, not a twitch, and when I heard of a new record, not even anything more than a glance at a sentence made me remember it. After all, when a band repeatedly puts out songs that simply lack hooks, and can't do anything to make them sound enjoyable or different, you eventually cast that band aside as "dull" or "not your thing."
Worries thrown away, the new Bayside record kicked my ass. Wow, what the hell happened to these guys? Pop hooks? Awesome. Thick, interesting guitars and hooks? Even better. A dark sound and lyrics? Now we're talking. "Sirens And Condolences" might remind you of Alkaline Trio meets the Foo Fighters, as it should, but for some reason it's just not the same thing. Maybe it's because I'm overexcited for the band for VASTLY improving and changing, but you can't ignore the quality of this one.
Sure it's not the most original record, and it has obviously noticeable influence that detract from its uniqueness, but "Sirens And Condolences" is like going 25 feet up. Congrats to the guys for finally putting out something worth listening to, and even beyond that, something that's even enjoyable.