Customer Reviews

Sirens & Condolences

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I call them as I hear them, and I have to say these guys have a great sound... though their lyrics get a little tiresom.

Bayside is definately one of the best gutiar rock acts I have heard in the past few years. Musically, they pack a mean punch with a lot of raw energy. The first five songs launch this album with superb energy and attitude. 'Masterpiece' has got some great drive to it, though my favorite is still 'Alchol and Alterboys'.

However, around track six they become clinically depressed and finish the album off with a straight shot of songs about death and disfiguration. Usually lyrics like this don't phase me, but getting six in a row is just tedious and I get sick of listening... which is really a shame since they are still GREAT sounding songs. Bayside's guitar never relents!

So, rock-wise all the tracks sound awesome. I highly recommend for that aspect alone. I just wish they would get over this "It's cool to be a depressed artist, so listen to my woes" thing.

I heard Bayside through a Victory sampler, the song being "Masterpiece", and fell in love with it, lyrically, musically, vocally, so I decided to pick up Sirens and Condolences. This cd hasn't left my CD player yet. It is truly great music. Gets better with every listen.

This guys voice is truly original and a pleasure to listen to. To top that off his lyrics are top of the line. I find the lyrics highly reminiscent of those of Alkaline Trio, except they are a little less dark and sinister. With Alkaline Trio being one of my favorite bands, Bayside was sure to please.

I could go on about this album and you could read a bunch of pointless nonsense, or i could just sum it up into, if you like original voices, deep/meaningful/excellent lyrics, good music, you need to check out Bayside's "Sirens and Condolences. It is a very very good piece of work.

I got a cd with 5 songs from artists from victory records on it and masterpeice was on it. at first i didnt like it but i was soon singing along and i had to get the cd- i wasnt let down. Their lyrics are really cool (take this razor and sign your name in my wrist so everyone can know who made me like this, Its not too cool to be throwing up, the sharper the edge the cleaner the wound, so ill be keeping it dull tonight because i deserve to hurt) and the singers voice anthony is somewhat distorted and it makes it sound cool instead of those catchy but often annoying singers. and finally some decent riffs that arent two notes over and over again. I also liked that all their songs had the same feel but with different beat like acuiesce was poppy, just enoguh to love you had a latin guitar, and alchohal was very hard. Thank you bayside for making a great album and thank you Taking Back Sunday for giving me a carppy let down, but giving me bayside.

I bought this CD after hearing "Masterpiece" on the Victory sampler, just like the rest of the world. All though the band doesn't seem to bring much to the table, I find myself listening to this CD all the time. While "Masterpiece" is a great song, tracks 6, 7, and 9, I think are the best on the album. Also there is no screaming like the rest of the Victory bands, so its smoother listening for the more melodic fans. It also is a more rock sound, not a whiney emo sound like the rest of the bands out there. A definite buy, unlike Hawthorne from the sampler.

Wonderful, lyrical concept driven, dark rock. Eleven (11) well constructed, bitter songs; each posessing it's own unique, biting intellect. For fans of passionately honest music. Check out "Alcohol and Altar Boys" and "Talking of Michelangelo." 5/5

i really enjoy bayside. i first heard of them from the Jawbreaker tribute album they were on, and then i decided i had to buy their CD when it came out. and i wasnt dissapointed. ive heard a lot of comparisons to the cure and the smiths with them, but i dont see it. they definitely have a darker side like those bands, but id say their sound is more like alkaline trio, but they have 2 guitars which allows for some interesting lead parts. i reccommend for fans of alk3, somehow hollow, bear vs shark, lawrence arms, thursday.

Having heard them a long time before this cd came out, i wasnt really into them. But with this is record, i totally like them now. The vocals are as unquie as you can get without sounding bad. Bayside are very talented band, musically and lyrically.

My favorite and stand out tracks are:

1. 'Masterpiece' - A great opening to the record. I really love the singing pattern in the verse. Good lyrics, which deals about getting over a failed love.
2. 'Poison In My Veins' - Everybody has pretty much heard this, being the first 'single' from this cd. It has catchiest chorus ever. Amazingly good lyrics, my favorite being "The poison on in my veins got me through your kiss".
4. 'Talking Of Michelangelo' - I absolulty love this song's chorus. When ever i listen to it, for some reason, the chorus vocals reminds me of Frank Sinatra. Weird. I know.
5. 'Alcohol And Alter Boys' - A very good song with even more really good lyrics and yet another catchy chorus.
6. 'A Synonym For Acquiesce' - A solid song with another catchy chorus leaving you singing "Take this razor, sign your name across my wrists, so everyone will know who left me like this".
9. 'If You're Bored' - The verse on this song is so good, and with a chorus just as good.
11. 'Guardrail' - What a brillant closer. So different from all the other songs on the cd yet just as amazing.

Overall, a very good debut by Bayside. Each song more medlodic and catchy their then next, and each track very unique in its own way. They have improved a lot of the years, and defiently one of the hidden gems on Victory Records. Watch out for these guys.

Another great find for Victory Records: Bayside sounds a lot like The Alkaline Trio, just way better. With great vocals and deep lyrics, I think this band should be in Victory's top 5 priority list(along with :taking back sunday, hawthorne heights, atreyu and straylight run)
This album is at its best with songs like: Alcohal and Altar Boys, Kellum, Masterpiece, Guardrail and How to Fix Everything.
I think we will be seeing a lot more Bayside in the future, so buy this and you can say you were there from the beginning.

Wonderful sound and lyrics. Will be a national sound in the near term.

First of all I'll clear up the confusion about the resemblance of this band with Alkaline Trio, the guy's voice sounds very similar but the music is nothing like it. This album starts off very strongly with the hit "Masterpiece" which bears its name in honour because it really is a masterpiece. The album is not very challenging musically however, this band makes an effort to try to sound more interesting than the other bands like them because this band includes quite a lot of guitar solos, and even though they may not be metal 200 kmh tapping, they blend in very nicely with the songs and give Bayside some originality, basically, this band can play their instruments well and have nice ideas but none of them are real geniuses with their instruments. Most of this album is quite soft, and I expected it to have a heavier and more punk edge, but in reality it is very emo, and they do have some similarities with Alkaline Trio. Basically if you like Alkaline Trio, or if you are looking for a less punk version of Lost City Angels this album should be a good buy for you.