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Review Summary: A summer album that's hard to dislike, but equally hard to respect. Traveling’s a passion of mine. The idea of living out of a suitcase is an exciting one, stepping out of the comfort zone to take time to appreciate other cultures and locales. Vacationer’s Gone draws hopeful backpackers like myself in for fairly obvious reasons, and its music is as entrancing as one would expect. The opening track “Everyone Knows” is arguably the strongest track on the album, bolstering dreamy guitar parts hand-in-hand with reverb. Vacationer's influences are fairly obvious - its gratifying vocal harmonies are reminiscent of The Beach Boys, and its dreamy instrumentation isn't unlike Beach House. Each cloudy guitar pluck further builds upon the relaxed atmosphere present, a drowsy beach-inspired indie soundscape. Most of the tracks that exemplify this best are the first few tracks, but that isn’t a surprise considering the usual ordering of modern indie albums. This standard format is replicated well enough on Gone, a record with enough mellower tracks to complement the couple of standouts. For instance, “Summer End” doesn’t exactly draw the most attention on the first spin, but it begins to hold its own with time.
Is it worth it to let it grow on you, though? The truth is that Gone’s peaks aren’t that memorable, even after a couple of listens. Sure, “Gone” is a really pretty track, but I certainly can’t remember why; on the same token, “Dreamlike” has the most apt title imaginable since its only feature I can recall is it being pleasant. Therein lies the problem to this album, that it’s afraid of being anything other than inoffensive - we dreamers want pleasant music, true, but that doesn’t mean we prefer it diluted, drained of substance and flavor. Gone is the result of a bored musician experimenting with a different style, one which he pulls off, sure, but not a style that comes most naturally.
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The eternal question: How does one describe an album that doesn't describe itself well?
Album stream: http://soundcloud.com/vacationer/sets/vacationer-gone-lp
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Interesting how you dig it, seem to love it, but at the same time can't stand it and have it as being only a 3. Short review, but it gets the point across very well. Pos as always.
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Thanks man. There honestly just wasn't a lot to say about this album - I don't like writing really short reviews, but not all albums are capable of being analyzed too deeply.
And I definitely don't love a whole lot about this album - in the very beginning it's enjoyable at best, but it's just not deep enough of a listen for me.
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I had the same issue with my JEFF the Brotherhood review. It was enjoyable but a lot of the tracks were very similar so the review didn't come out very long.
Since this has dream pop influences I'll probably check it out. I'm a sucker for anything that has that Beach House-esque sound.
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this is a really chill relaxing album. not much depth but man this dude is pretty talented. starting line/person l/vacationer all have bit of a different sound
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ILJA yeah man, check out the stream I posted above.
Agreed, jdennis. This album's good for what it is, just not one I'll be returning much to. I'd like to hear something by the Starting Line at some point - the only thing that I knew about Vasoli prior to this review was that he was featured in that one Say Anything song.
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ahh, his newest album 'direction' is a far departure from his older stuff. didn't listen to anything in between but i really like direction. however, it is a bit like this where it has its standout trait in the vocals and melodies but it lacks depth
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I figured as much from this after hearing Good as New a couple of months back. I'll probably still listen to it, though. Pos, buddy!
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
i dig this album, been spinning it since february but its a lot better in the summertime. just saw them for free last weekend actually. still can't believe this is the same guy from the starting line tho
great review natch
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I'll checking this out. I've gotten really into The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson lately. Great review, Omaha. POS'd.
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I liked this but...I don't even know. This is like the sixth 3/5 rating I've given today, ugh.
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Thanks guys! :]
Rudy, is "natch" a term of endearment over in CA? We Georgians are so out of touch. :P
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I lowered my rating, I don't see myself listening to this in the future.
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Tried this out, liked it a lot actually. My only gripe is that I'm frequently reminded of Beach House and Animal Collective while listening to this, music that I think does what this album does, but much better.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=natch
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Alex, I definitely know what you mean. This album's nifty for me, but I just can't imagine myself going out of my way to listen to it in the future. Thanks for checking it out, dude - do you have any plans as to what your first Contrib. review will be? :]
Aw, Rudy's a sweetie natch.
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Not bad but not great. Kenny needs to make a new Starting Line record already!
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
I couldn't be any further in disagreement from the aforementioned reviewers. As a matter of fact, I created an account just to voice my praise for this record. Vacationer's "Gone" is absolutely stunning. It's very "chill" and "relaxed" but there is certainly layers to this album that are revealed after multiple listens. Lots of heart, lots of positive energy, and most importantly, I feel a unique connection.
Vacationer's "Gone" has a sound unto his own, truly distinct from any other music I hear currently being made. I respect everyones opinion, and I don't expect you to love this album as much as me, however to simply write it off as a catchy piece of work that's fun for a few listens then fizzles out is just flat out wrong. This music is great for meditation, running, chilling, drinking, smoking, before bed, while walking, during breakfast, after dinner, in the morning, and any time between. I highly suggest you listen to this and give it a few listens, it's really a gem.
And I know this is my ego talking but to say Vacationer reminds you of Beach House and Animal Collective... are you serious? I'm a huge fan of both bands, and I don't see where that connection is being made. So misguided. Ah, sorry, I had that last gripe to settle. Enjoy this album. Cheers! 5/5
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
I couldn't be any further in disagreement from the aforementioned reviewers. As a matter of fact, I created an account just to voice my praise for this record. Vacationer's "Gone" is absolutely stunning. It's very "chill" and "relaxed" but there is certainly layers to this album that are revealed after multiple listens. Lots of heart, lots of positive energy, and most importantly, I feel a unique connection.
Vacationer's "Gone" has a sound unto his own, truly distinct from any other music I hear currently being made. I respect everyones opinion, and I don't expect you to love this album as much as me, however to simply write it off as a catchy piece of work that's fun for a few listens then fizzles out is just flat out wrong. This music is great for meditation, running, chilling, drinking, smoking, before bed, while walking, during breakfast, after dinner, in the morning, and any time between. I highly suggest you listen to this and give it a few listens, it's really a gem.
And I know this is my ego talking but to say Vacationer reminds you of Beach House and Animal Collective... are you serious? I'm a huge fan of both bands, and I don't see where that connection is being made. So misguided. Ah, sorry, I had that last gripe to settle. Enjoy this album. Cheers! 5/5
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
I couldn't be any further in disagreement from the aforementioned reviewers. As a matter of fact, I created an account just to voice my praise for this record. Vacationer's "Gone" is absolutely stunning. It's very "chill" and "relaxed" but there is certainly layers to this album that are revealed after multiple listens. Lots of heart, lots of positive energy, and most importantly, I feel a unique connection.
Vacationer's "Gone" has a sound unto his own, truly distinct from any other music I hear currently being made. I respect everyones opinion, and I don't expect you to love this album as much as me, however to simply write it off as a catchy piece of work that's fun for a few listens then fizzles out is just flat out wrong. This music is great for meditation, running, chilling, drinking, smoking, before bed, while walking, during breakfast, after dinner, in the morning, and any time between. I highly suggest you listen to this and give it a few listens, it's really a gem.
And I know this is my ego talking but to say Vacationer reminds you of Beach House and Animal Collective... are you serious? I'm a huge fan of both bands, and I don't see where that connection is being made. So misguided. Ah, sorry, I had that last gripe to settle. Enjoy this album. Cheers!
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