Bad Luck. are bringing feelings not decibels on new acoustic EP—listen

Bad Luck., the Brooklyn, New York-based emo team, are following up their Drug Phase mini-lp with an acoustic release, Friends. (Again). Today, AltPress is premiering the four-song collection prior to its Friday the 13th release on Take This To Heart Records.

While Drug Phase was an amps-to-10 exercise in emotional excavation, the new EP finds the volume turned down, but not the sentiments. Bad Luck. vocalist/guitarist Dominick Fox discussed the songs on the EP with AltPress.

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1. “Untitled”

This is somewhat more of a prologue and intro to the EP than it is just another song, which I think is at least partially why I’ve never wanted to give it a title. I wrote it a very long time ago and always thought it should be officially released but didn’t know where it would make sense until now. It’s essentially a ranting preface for the melodic sadness and sonic/production qualities the rest of the EP has to offer.

2. “Gwendolyn”

This song is an apology to women. More specifically, it’s an apology in advance to a potential future daughter. I know I’m not actually old yet, but I am getting older to the point that a good amount of my friends are having kids. Being around for that huge life change and seeing what it can do to someone’s self-awareness inspired the thought behind this track. Coming to my own understanding in terms of if/when that happens to me and what it would mean to me is what made me write this song.

3. “Fake Lemonade”

“Fake Lemonade” is a snapshot of the ending of a decade-long relationship. It’s about noticing new differences that have naturally developed between two people who were convinced their differences could never drive them apart, but more so, the harsh realization that comes with knowing now they’ve done just that. Sometimes personal progress unintentionally brings about difficult change, and sometimes that’s life. The optimistic and salvageable part of it all is in the last line, “Daydreaming we can be friends again.” Just because something is not what it once was doesn’t mean it wasn’t what it always claimed to be at its best, and more so, doesn’t dictate that a specific relationship’s ending is truly the end of knowing, respecting, caring for and ultimately loving that person.

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4. “Sorry About Your Cardinals Jim”

Not only does this track close out the EP, [but] it also represents the end of this very exciting but very, very difficult year of my life. Similar in subject matter to “Fake Lemonade” in terms of it being about the end of a relationship that essentially had no end in sight until the day it was over. However, there’s a little more emphasis on the hurt and reflection that comes with realizing you’re not desired by someone in the ways you once were and somewhat always have been. All of us in the studio—at different times too—cried while tracking this one. Maybe that’s strange to include, but I think it’s worth mentioning that it truly evokes honest sadness. Whatever that’s worth, I’m proud of it.

Fox tells AltPress that Bad Luck. are tracking their second full-length at the top of 2020. You can preorder Friends. (Again) right here. Go see Bad Luck. on their last few live shows of 2019 before heading out in mid-January with Hawthorne Heights, Emery and Vagrants. See a full list of dates below with tickets here.

Dates:

12/12 – Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room
12/13 – San Antonio, TX @ Vibes Underground
12/14 – Houston, TX @ Green Room
12/17 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa
12/18 – Birmingham, AL @ The Nick
12/20 – Cleveland, OH @ The Agora (Snowed In)
12/21 – Washington, DC @ Vinyl Lounge at Songbird
12/22 – Long Island, NY @ Amityville Music Hall

01/15 – Charleston, SC @ Music Farm *
01/16 – Columbia, SC @ The Senate *
01/17 – Savannah, GA @ Victory North *
01/18 – Jacksonville, FL @ 1904 Music Hall *
01/19 – Ocala, FL @ Raw Hyde Live *
01/20 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room *
01/21 – Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall *
01/22 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues *
01/23 – Memphis, TN @ Growlers *
01/24 – Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall *

* with Hawthorne Heights, Emery, Vagrants