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Upon first listen of Bad Suns’ full length debut Language & Perspective, one would think they were listening to something straight out of the Depeche Mode registry, but the Los Angeles natives (who seem to have a flare for everything good about 80’s new wave) are carving out a name for themselves, even if their sound is exactly on trend with new modern music.
Language & Perspective starts off with “Matthew James” and “We Move Like the Ocean,” both chill, mellow yet booming guitar-laden tracks that set the mood for the rest of the songs that make up Bad Suns’ debut. “Cardiac Arrest,” the four-piece’s first official single, follows the first two tracks as a hypnotically rhythmic and catchy ode to the danger of a woman’s kiss. Even though the song is a brief three minutes long, it does not leave anything to be desired, and is (to be frank) a great way for new listeners to get acquainted with the Bad Suns sound.
For those lucky fans that have already heard of and known about Bad Suns for a while, it’s probably because they have been touring around the country recently with another popular breakout band – The 1975. It’s not surprising to know that these two acts have worked together in this capacity, since both have a similar aesthetic in their sounds of upbeat 80s-sounding instrumentals utilized and paired with cynical, modern-day lyrics. Other highlights include “Take My Love and Run,” “Salt” (which was previously released on the EP Transpose, and “Learn To Trust.”
Language & Perspective’s real strong suit though is closer “Rearview,” one of those rare tracks that will undoubtedly immerse listeners in its complex guitar riffs, thunderous bass, and infectious backbeat. If the cliché of saving the best for last were to apply to anything, it would most definitely be for Language & Perspective’s “Rearview.”For a band that is just now starting to garner national attention, it’s good that Language & Perspective is a consistent body of work that will have listeners satisfied, if not hungry for more of what Bad Suns has to offer.
