Beside Myself
Beside Myself brings Basement's melodies into sharper focus. The guitars sound clear and substantial, and Andrew Fisher's voice keeps its vulnerable character without being buried in the mix. The album is easy to approach, but its brighter surface does not remove the unease underneath. It is an accessible rock record with a strong emotional pull.
Disconnect makes that clear from the start. Its broad guitar chords lead into a chorus that feels large without turning the song into empty spectacle. Fisher gives the melody a sense of uncertainty, so the hook has something more to carry than volume. It is a strong opening, and the rest of the album has to work to keep up with it.
There is more force in this sound than a casual first impression might suggest. Nothing Left and Slip Away have enough guitar weight to keep the polished production from becoming too comfortable. New Coast and Ultraviolet take a more openly tuneful route. The band sound confident using a simple melodic idea, with little need to cover it in extra parts.
Changing Lanes briefly pulls the record into an acoustic setting. Its short length helps it act as a pause before the darker Stigmata, rather than bringing the sequence to a stop. Reason For Breathing offers another useful contrast later on, putting a rougher, less straightforward riff beneath Fisher's voice. Those moments give the album some welcome variation.
The smoother approach is also the main weakness. Several songs sit in a similar middle pace, and the clear production can make their differences less obvious. Fisher's restrained delivery suits the mood, but it does not give every chorus the same impact as Disconnect. The full album is more even than exciting in places.
Even so, Basement make this direction convincing. The hooks are strong, the guitars retain some bite, and the writing gives the cleaner sound a reason to exist. Beside Myself is a good choice for listeners who want the emotional directness of emo inside an uncomplicated alternative rock album. It works best when the melody and the discomfort behind it arrive together.
