UPDATED 9/20/2011: Bonus unfinished tracks added to the end of the original write-up…
It’s been a month or two since release and close to a year since the last recording for the Vacation EP. I gave it a listen recently for the first time in months and figured I’d post my impressions of the project now that I’m removed from making it. Overall, a few things jump out at me as I listen.
First, the vocal straining kills me. Actually, most aspects of the vocals make me sad. They were the final tracks written and recorded for each song, which I think shows in the way they sound tacked-on. I think I was going for a Meat Without Feet style harmony on some of the choruses, and songs like “Holy Grace” and “Spinning Record” mostly get there. While writing the words and melodies, I didn’t try to do anything different, I just tried to find vocals that “fit.” What that ends up meaning, I think, is that I fall into some vocal trappings from previous albums and don’t do a whole lot of growing. The words are mainly stream of consciousness and the melodies are the first things that pop into my head. The album ends up with vocal rhythms that favor upbeats and don’t have a ton of melodic variation.
But enough badmouthing the vocals (something I think I’ve improved on with The Name and the soon to be released Meat Without Feet WPOP.) Listening to the album again, I’m amazed at the fidelity of the drums considering I only used a single condenser sitting on top of a speaker (not even a mic stand!) aimed vaguely at the bass drum in the corner of the room. It clearly doesn’t sound professional, but I’m glad I can hear most of the hits. I still have the same snare sound that I hated on some previous recordings, but all things considered, it sounds pretty good. I’m also surprisingly happy with the guitar tones for being pumped through my little Fender practice amp through way of a Boss multi-effects.
A few thoughts, on a track-by-track basis:
“Working”
Holy verse vocals. The lead guitar line in the chorus makes me smile though, and if this track was developed a little further and had a different vocalist, it might have ended up pretty good. Also, vibra-slap!
“Out of Sight”
What a mess. I’m practicing my finger picking here, and while it doesn’t sound very consistent, I do like the principal guitar lines. Chorus vocals got reworked about a hundred times. I like the attempt to connect lead and backing vocals in the chorus, but it still just sounds like an experiment. Notice the missing second solo… another sign I just decided I was done with this album.
“Tantrum”
Written at a friend’s house on his two and a half year old son’s toy guitar. He was upset about not being able to play with the PlayStation and got grumpy. How this chord sequence symbolizes this, I have no idea. It did turn into “Holy Grace” though…
“On the Run”
This track is similar stylistically to one on the upcoming Meat Without Feet disc. It’s choppy and somewhat funky, but yearns to be developed by Funk Shits. This is one of those styles I just cannot do on my own. I am, however, pretty happy with the acoustic guitar pull off stuff. Definitely struggled to write and perform the verse vocals. Pre-chorus and solo are sort of out of place and the lyrics bug me.
“Holy Grace”
Probably my favorite of the project. Production sounds good and the guitars pop. The last note or two of the chorus repeat still doesn’t sit right with me. Not sure if it’s because I’m out of tune, or if it’s just not refined enough. Most of these songs definitely would have benefited from a second ear and a few iterations. Also, this song is vaguely about string theory…
“The End of Vacation”
This was the last track recorded for the EP. I regret the extended intro, since nothing really interesting happens after it’s established the “verse” repeat. I do like how the song meanders afterwards, though the wall of tracks gets a little absurd by the end (whistling, clapping, organ, three guitars…)
“Spinning Record”
Something about the chorus melody isn’t as catchy as I want it to be. It never quite achieves the singalongy-ness that I want it to. This is, however, the first and only time I can remember doing an eighth note muted guitar strum and the consistency is acceptable.
-Mike
BONUS! Three unfinished, unreleased tracks from the Vacation sessions. These were the first three tracks recorded, back when the project was going to be called “April Break.” Once I wrote the music for what would later become “Working,” I decided to change the direction of the album a bit. These are works in progress: the vocals are early takes, the lyrics partially temporary, and the mixing/mastering largely left undone. Still, interesting to hear some of the solo work and a few other elements.