by Jare C (@jareccurtis)
In our current digital age of music distribution and beyond, it can sometimes feel unlikely for a band of musicians to have that classic “some kids just jamming out in the garage” origin story - whether the garage in question is actually a garage at all. While a lot of folks’ perception of how music gets started these days might be a lot more focused on online spaces, plenty of groups have been making a splash in the past few years with those more “classic” beginnings - and Atlanta’s Lunar Vacation feels like a prime example of that. Formed in 2016 after a suggestion by a high school teacher, the gaze-y, jazzy, indie rock band spent the next five years plugging away at a series of EPs that saw the band experimenting with an assortment of aesthetics, textures, and tones with a melodic slow indie tone. In 2021, the band hit their first big stride with the acclaimed Inside Every Fig Is A Dead Wasp. That record, which is a bubbly take on many of the ideas that were in their infancy on those previous EP’s, was produced by Grouplove’s Daniel Gleason, and became quite a significant hit in indie pop, shoegaze, and slowcore circles.
Following this success, dropping several incredibly fun covers, the demos of Fig, and the subsequent years of playing all over, Lunar Vacation has finally come back with a brand new crop of songs. A sophomore record can be a difficult thing to pull off for a band of young musicians, especially when their first record enjoyed quite a bit of success with fans of their respective genres. Luckily, Lunar Vacation took just enough time to figure out what they wanted to do the second time around, and absolutely delivered. Their latest record, Everything Matters, Everything’s Fire, takes the sugary, dreamy goodness of Fig and turns the catchiness up several notches. The layered guitars, plodding beats, and Gep Repasky’s trademark bright, yet laid back vocals are still here, but there’s an added pop direction to where Fig left off that gives Everything Matters, Everything’s Fire an even snappier quality.
In the album’s onset, the band lays into an initial run of songs that really turn up the energy and tempo. The groove of the guitar line on “Sick,” coupled with its melody and layered bass, give the listener a really comfortable seat to settle into, right into the wall of pedal-y goodness on “Set the Stage”. The third track, “Tom,” splits the difference of the two tracks that came before it, giving way to one of the most well-lived instrumental builds of the year. The record continues this push-and-pull of groove, vibe, energy, and tempo throughout its runtime. “Erase All The B’s” is a really slow, floating track that paints a peaceful picture of reinvention, reflection, and growth, giving “Bitter”’s lamenting chorus and forthright hook a lot of staying power.
A listener can really tell that the band focused on putting together a project that allowed them to showcase their talents on the performance and songwriting front, escalating what was already the signature sound of the band, while still creating something that was not a shot-for-shot remake of what they’ve done before. Everything Matters, Everything’s Fire is a near-perfect sequel of a record, while standing triumphantly on its own. A sophomore album can certainly be really tricky for a band to pull off well, but Lunar Vacation has stuck this landing, with plenty of talent, emotion, and energy- creating one of the standout indie records of the year.