I suppose it has been almost exactly two whole years since the release of Bad Suns’ last full length record, Apocalypse Whenever, but to me it’s felt like no time at all! One could also see the desire to make new music now that they are just a three-piece. I don’t believe there was any bad blood with Ray Libby’s departure, but I’m sure there was a desire to see what they could create in this new form.
With all that being said, I didn’t feel that Infinite Joy sounded too far out of the realm of what I’ve come to expect from a Bad Suns record. With the exception of Mystic Truth, of course. I love these guys a lot, but I will never even like that album. I am kind of curious why they didn’t choose to wait and expand on this six-track EP to make another record, but perhaps it’s because it really does sound like an extension of Apocalypse Whenever. If someone were to have told me these were actually bonus tracks for this album, I would have believed them. And that’s not a bad thing! I love the signature Bad Suns sound!
We were treated to two singles off of this EP, before I even knew and EP was even going to be a thing. Seriously, I only knew about this release because I was looking to buy a song on iTunes. I don’t know if none of the band’s social media sites are in my rotation anymore, but I was surprised and then sad that I didn’t know about it. Anyway, “Astral Plan” and “The One I Used to Love” were both singles that got released into the world over the past several months. The latter is something that very much sounds like the sister song of two other tracks off of Apocalypse Whenever, and for that, it’s extremely catchy. It reflects their beach pop rock sound that is so synonymous with their other work. The other single left me feeling pretty neutral about it, but a second listen through proved it to be very disco in nature.
Another track off the EP that borrows those disco influences is “Just to Feel Your Touch.” Though in this iteration, the disco vibes are very deep and sexual. There’s also a breakdown at the end that is really cool as it infuses more 80s synth sounds. “Everything Is…” kind of shocked me with its early lyrics, but I came around to it. I wouldn’t say I loved the song, but it ended up being very fun and high energy. I could see it going over very well with a crowd if they decided to play this on tour someday. Opening and closing tracks, “Lunar Shadows” and “Living and Dying” respectively, didn’t really leave a lasting impact on me. The opening song was kind of unusual in that it really took on some early 2000s pop punk sounds, in a similar vein to Good Charlotte or Simple Plan, to name a couple. The last song just felt rather generic with nothing really setting it apart.
All of that to say, I was really happy with this EP! I was just happy to get new music from these guys in general! I don’t know what kind of tours are on the horizon, but I do hope they come around. It’s been far too long since I’ve seen these guys, and I’d really like that to change. If you are a fan of indie, alternative, or pop rock, then please check these guys out.