Bayside: The Red EP
Bayside has been providing the emo kids soundtracks and anthems for the last 20 years. With every album they have released over the years it has provided a snapshot of where they were in their lives, and given us the music to tie our memories to. Anthony Raneri says “We don’t want to abandon the idea of songs as a collection all together so we decided to release each record session as an EP. The Red Ep is a collection from the first round of recordings we did for this project”
This 3 track EP kicks off with Strangest Faces. This track is quintessential Bayside, melodic guitars yet heavily pushing the song forward. Raneri’s vocals are spot on as he sings about the struggles of finding “friendly faces when you’ve got nothing left to sell” which is a feeling that virtually everyone can relate to. And that has always been some of the band’s ability to reach broad audiences.
Good Advice comes in next giving old fans a feeling of nostalgia but also with a very fresh feel. This track checks all of the boxes for a Bayside song; fast guitars, hard drumline, lyrics that are both chant-able and scream-able. Raneri sings “Why’s good advice so hard to come by?” but then gives some of the best advice anyone can get and that is one simple line: “Someday you'll die but for now enjoy the ride”.
Closing out the album is Just Like Home. This is the last track to be revealed from the EP and is sure to be a fan favorite very quickly. The track reminiscent of tracks from the band’s album Interrobang. Showcasing the band’s ability to change tempos, and style and still produce a song that hooks listeners.
For over 2 decades at this point, Bayside fans have been referred to as a cult. The band has been about to amass this cult like following through being their authentic selves, never settling or compromising for what the current trend in music is. This is why so many of their fans support them through every release they’ve made, whether it is an acoustic track (which gets as much if not more love than the original), a cover song, an all out rock song, or a song of the depressed. Bayside is a band that people can relate to, and tie to moments in their lives. This EP is a peak at the new material they are working on, and fans are sure to be ready to make whatever comes next the soundtrack of this chapter of their lives.