Review by John
B Sides Vol B by MITYX: A Rock Gem That Slipped Under the Radar
Alright, let’s talk about B Sides Vol B by MITYX. It’s one of those albums you stumble upon when you're deep-diving into the "weird but cool" corners of indie rock from France. Released in 2007 under Not On Label (yep, they really went for that DIY vibe), this record is a scrappy little bundle of energy that feels like it was cooked up in someone’s garage during a caffeine-fueled weekend. And honestly? I’m here for it.
MITYX tags this as alternative rock and indie rock, which checks out, but there’s something delightfully unhinged about how they blend styles. You can tell these guys weren’t trying to impress anyone—they just wanted to make music that felt real, raw, and maybe slightly unhinged. Spoiler alert: mission accomplished.
Let me break down two tracks that stuck with me because, well, not every song on an album needs to be memorable, right?
First up, “(R) Like Phoenix Do.” This track kicks things off with a riff so sharp it could cut glass. The guitar work has this gritty, almost stoner-rock edge to it, while the vocals sound like someone yelling poetry at 3 a.m. after too many espressos. What makes this track unforgettable is its refusal to sit still—it shifts gears faster than my cat chasing a laser pointer. One minute it’s all brooding and moody, the next it explodes into a chaotic burst of drums and distortion. If you’re looking for subtlety, keep walking. But if you want something that punches you in the face and then laughs about it, this is your jam.
Then there’s “The Brabant Moonlight,” which might be the most French-sounding thing ever created outside of a baguette factory. Picture this: dreamy, reverb-soaked guitars swirling around like cigarette smoke in a dimly lit café. The lyrics are cryptic enough to make you think, “Oh wow, deep,” without actually understanding what’s going on. And honestly, who cares? The vibe is everything here. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to stare wistfully out a rain-specked window while pretending life is more dramatic than it actually is. Bonus points for the bassline—it grooves harder than it has any right to.
Now, let’s zoom out for a sec. Why does B Sides Vol B matter? Well, it doesn’t—not really. Not in the grand scheme of things. But isn’t that the beauty of albums like this? They exist because someone had something to say—or scream—into the void, and we get to listen. MITYX didn’t reinvent rock music with this release, but they didn’t need to. They made something weird, imperfect, and oddly charming. And sometimes, that’s more than enough.
Final thought: Listening to B Sides Vol B feels like finding a crumpled-up love letter in the back of a dusty drawer. It’s messy, heartfelt, and probably shouldn’t work—but it kinda does. Also, fun fact—I now have “(R) Like Phoenix Do” stuck in my head while writing this, and I don’t hate it. Take that for what it’s worth.
