Music Review: "Mystic Truth"

Album: “Mystic Truth”

Artist: Bad Suns

Genre: Indie-Rock

Release Date: March 22, 2019

Label: Epitaph Records

Producer: Dave Sardy

The nostalgic 80s summer-sounding band is back with more. It has been over a year without new Bad Suns music and three without an album. The hype and anticipation were high for their new album “Mystic Truth.”

The songs on this album consist of majorly upbeat songs with lyrics about falling in love. As much as I like this album, it was a bit of a letdown. Yes, the songs are pleasant to my ears, but it almost feels as if they did not change anything from their previous albums. Over a span of five years since their debut album, they have stuck to their same sound of indie-rock, not taking any risks.

In some instances, I agree with this technique; when someone’s sound and lyrical style is unique solely to them, do not change it. Take Panic at the Disco! for example. He [Christo] has stayed the same throughout his whole career, but no one makes music like him; he is one of a kind.

Even look at The 1975, their sound and music is theirs. You hear their music, and you instantly know it is The 1975. Even they took a risk, though, with their latest album release, “A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships,” and it worked. It got even more fans interested in their music, and the risk paid off.

I would have loved to see Bad Suns do this. Now, I am in no way saying they had to completely change who they are and do a 180, but seeing a little bit of risk would have been nice.

Personally, as a music enthusiast, when bands come out with albums every couple of years, I want to see a distinct difference between the songs on each album. With Bad Suns, I cannot tell the songs on each album apart; they all seem the same.

Even amongst my disappointment, the album is good. There is no question about that. The band has a future hit in “Darkness Arrives (And Departs),” a rock bop which draws a distinct comparison, for me, to their hit song “Swimming in the Moonlight.”

“Hold Your Fire” and “Love by Mistake” attack the problem of falling in love accidentally and not knowing what to do with that feeling. “Hold Your Fire” talks about falling in love and having to hold back the passion you feel for someone.

“Love by Mistake” talks openly about falling in love with someone you did not intend to. Everyone has a point in their life when they fall hard for someone they had no intention to. Love is not always a choice, hardly ever is it a choice to be more accurate, which is why so many people fall in love almost instantaneously because of the quick recognition you are suddenly in love with this person. Christo addresses this topic greatly in “Love by Mistake.”

“Mystic Truth” is a safe album; that ultimately sums it up. It is nothing special, nothing amazing, nothing more than safe. It has good songs, but it does not get me excited. I was on the edge of my seat when this album dropped and quickly was pushed to the back of it. I want an album I cannot hit pause on, and this album does not do it.

Reese Gorman is a sophomore journalism major from Schertz, TX. He is passionate about music because he believes it has a unique way of bringing people together and it brings him joy. Reese’s favorite artist is The 1975 and his favorite genre of music is Indie/Alternative. In his free time, Reese enjoys golfing, climbing, camping and reading.