Album Review: Bomb The Music Industry! - Vacation
Offering up 6 albums of material for nothing can be seen as a risky maneuver in the current climate of the music industry. Bomb The Music Industry! however, do exactly what it says on the tin. The DIY punk ethos of the band has been evident in them giving away stencils online for fans to create t-shirts as well as inviting fans up on stage during live shows to perform alongside the band. The release of their latest effort, "Vacation", is available for free download/optional donation only solidifies this ethos.
Starting off with a hushed vocal and a soft piano line, "Campaign For A Better Next Weekend" starts out as a misleading opening ballad before the explosion halfway through the song actually sets the tone for the rest of the album. Lyrically, the songs feel more like stories or confessions, as present mostly in the groove-laden "Sick, Later" where lead singer Jeff Rosenstock narrates, "I remember the common room was really cold and the vending machines and the snow were iced over outside."
As the Bon Iver-esque vocal harmonies on "Sponge Board / Baby Waves" segue into "The Shit That You Hate" which resonates a calmer attitude altogether. Contrasting the fast paced nature of the first few songs, accompanied by diverse flourishes of various instruments including a 8-bit chiptune synthesizer as well as staccato strings all layered over the pure anguish of Jeff Rosenstock's vocals, especially towards the last few minutes of the song where the entire band, after teasing fans with their instruments, finally all come in together.
The versatility of "Vacation" is surreal, encompassing a number of multiple genres all crammed onto one CD, exploring the musical spectrum from from 8-bit music ("Sunny Place / Shady People") to Surf Pop influenced ("Hurricane Waves") all of which wrapped around a punk aesthetic. Bomb The Music Industry! create their masterwork between the band itself and a revolving lineup of contributors, enough to create 2 football teams.
4/5
'Vacation' is out now through Quote Unquote Records.
George Gadd
