As a generalization I’d call vacation garage-punk, but the band has just as much grunge to their sound as those other styles -- and a whole lot more too. It’s raw ‘n’ straight-forward rock ‘n’ roll in a balance that pulls from the classic structures, balancing emotion and fuzz within melodic and building structures that ebb and flow for powerful effect. The biggest separator from those heavier styles is that while vacation are loud, they are not overtly aggressive. There is a pop sensibility underlying the songs and highlighting their emotional resonance instead of relying on more abrasive methods. They aren’t afraid to slow down the tempo to achieve this, using moody atmosphere to convey more complex ideas.
Rare Earth is one of those records where the message is spelled out right away with opening lyrics of “We still want rock ‘n’ roll.” It’s a love song to rock ‘n’ roll, which is a theme you’ll hear again on this LP. While the power of rock ‘n’ roll is a recurring idea, the true theme essentially begins with the second track, the titular “Rare Earth.” It’s upbeat and poppy with a mix of power chords and guitar picking that blends with a muddy bass sound. The general vibes throughout Rare Earth (the record) are upbeat but a bit grungy, a blend of positivity and cycnisim. Guitar really carries most of the melodies, with notable leads in songs like “Kink” and “Mobility.” Vocalist Jerri Queen picks up melodic cues from the guitar and runs with them. Every now and then you’ll get a bit of a singalong tone, such as in “Big Hat World” or “Tectonic Rider,” but the band uses dynamic shifts for the bulk of their emotional pull. The hook tends to come when an emotional lyrical plea partners with a guitar progression for peak effect.
Circling back to the start and recapping: Vacation take the directness of garage rock, the emotional punch of punk, and the rawness of grunge to comprise their own spin. It’s equally poppy and rough around the edges: songs that are short, direct and meaningful without the bloat or sheen of bigger rock. Yes, this record directly speaks to the pull of rock ‘n’ roll. More importantly, they show it.
