Bayside is part of a rare breed of bands from the mid-aughts who despite being really good 20 years ago might be even better today. Their 2024 album There Are Worse Things Than Being Alive is an absolute banger, rivaled in stature only by their second album Bayside which we’ll be covering today.
All the elements that made them underground icons are present on this album. The intricate and technical guitar work that has brutal riffs, harmonized leads, and blistering solos? Check. Lead singer Anthony Raneri’s distinct timbre that vacillates between smooth melodies and gritty emotion, paired with darkly poetic lyrics that focus on introspection and resilience? Check. And finally, the songwriting chops of the whole band that blends a real knack for minor-key harmonies and strong melodic sensibilities without sacrificing the heavy grit of their punk roots? Check, check, check. This is the album that caused me and many others to fall in love with the band, and it’s just as good now as it was twenty years ago.
Standout Songs: “Devotion and Desire”, “They Looked Like Strong Hands”, “Montauk”, “Blame It On Bad Luck”
