Which album for a teen?

[u/mellyissalee]

It is my niece's 13th birthday. She's been obsessed with emo/punk/alternative music for a couple years now. Being a middle-schooler in the early 2000s, I walked to get her a walkman portable cd player and some CDs for her birthday. She's currently obsessed with My Chemical Romance so I was going to buy her Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. But I also wanted to share my favorite band, Bayside, with her. I was thinking about getting her my favorite album (Shudder), but I was wondering what album others would suggest for people new to Bayside. Thanks!!

[u/tarxanboy]

can’t go wrong with self titled

[u/NightSprings665 → u/tarxanboy]

💯. Self titled would probably resonate with a 13 year old way more than later albums too. For example, Worst Things has me thinking about my mortality and getting old and shit (about to be 42). “These days, I think more about death than i used to”. A tween would definitely be more at home with something like Devotion and Desire.

[u/Legal_Ad2707 → u/tarxanboy]

Oh totally I came here to say this. 16yo me would have loved montauk

[u/WeatherBackground964]

The Walking Wounded and/or Vacancy. I know Vacancy might be an unpopular opinion but I feel like they really leaned into their broadway influenced melodies and it’s very catchy.

[u/bcarlson9 → u/WeatherBackground964]

The show-tune, almost Baroque pop aspects of Vacancy make it my favorite of theirs. Coupled with lyrics about a divorce? Hoooo boy is that meant for me

[u/amanda1005]

I mean, I was 14 when Sirens came out and my little emo heart loved the lyrics…

[u/sehguh251]

I started listening to bayside around the same age maybe a lil younger with the walking wounded first.

[u/zgibs125]

Another vote for self-titled. My friend bought it for me for my 15th birthday 20+ years ago and they've been my favorite band ever since.

[u/austinsimons922]

Another good option I don't see mentioned is cult, definitely resonated with me at 14. Also sets then right in the middle between their older and newer stuff so she can always go in either direction in their discography if she likes them

[u/Thenightswatchman]

While sirens and self titled are good I would probably get her an album from walking wounded or forward just as that's really when they began to solidify their style. I feel like walking wounded was a bit of a departure from their first two albums and I think those might be good for her to listen after hearing what they sound more like since walking wounded. I do feel like Shudder is probably a good starting point. It's my personal favorite and while it's not super different than walking wounded it does feel a bit more polished and refined than walking wounded

[u/CharlieKelly-BirdLaw]

I think Shudder's a good call. I get the self-titled recommendation for a teen, but I'd also be curious if she likes one their last two–Interrobang or There Are Worse Things.

[u/ChonVibes]

Shudder and everything before! Maybe skip Sirens and condolences if you don’t wanna give her some of the subject matter on there.

[u/corruptchemist]

Bayside or shudder

[u/fadedflaker]

Obviously long stories short... jk jk I would say walking wounded

[u/cycling513]

Shudder

[u/KaleKaChing]

I’m surprised no one said Killing Time. I think it’s their catchiest and best produced album until Interrobang.

[u/myipodclassic]

I got into them around that age with self-titled, but I think The Walking Wounded or Shudder would be great options too!

[u/Black-cat-gayming]

I think going with interrobang and TAWTTBA would be good, especially since they're working on new music for next year and are active in making music, the newer stuff is great and will show what they'll be like in the future

Tbh you can go with anything but those two are great albums (TAWTTBA is probably they're strongest work imo)

[u/JangRamyun]

Shudder. It has Demons and Roshambo

[u/Metal_Ash]

Walking Wounded was my introduction to them as a teen