Vacation – Rare Earth – New LP
"Vacation’s new album Rare Earth comes at a time when the powder keg of civilization as we know it is particularly vulnerable to the spark that swallows our very existence. Rare Earth is an album that exists on account of this fact; lyrically and sonically in meditation of it. It’s an album that evokes at once the ominous churning of the Bizarros, the drone & dirge of Screaming Urge, and the melodic cushion of the Replacements’ tender years. Nine albums into their discography, Vacation remain true to shrill atmospheric ambience in tribute to Pere Ubu while retaining the hard-edged accessibility that was signed, sealed, and delivered to sensitive degenerates by the likes of the Ramones and Guided By Voices. Rare Earth delivers all of this in a uniquely sparkling package; almost tactile in relation to their live experience. It’s this Cincinnati power-quartet’s most explosive album yet." -Amos Pitsch (Dusk, Tenement)
Produced by Vacation and Sam Richardson
Recorded February 2023 at the Lodge in Dayton, KY, except "Life Beyond" vocals recorded at the Checkered Flag in Cincinnati, OH, June 2023
Engineered by John Hoffman at the Lodge
Tape operator: Cole Gilfilen
Mixed by Vacation and Sam Richardson at the Checkered Flag
Mastered by Bill McElroy at Slipped Disc, Ashland, VA
VACATION: Jerome Westerkamp III, Evan Wolff, John Hoffman, John Clooney
with additional help from Cole Gilfilen, Megan Schroer, Jamie Morrison, Keith Harman, Dakota Carlyle, and Sam Richardson
All songs by J. Westerkamp except track 2 by J. Westerkamp, J. Hoffman, E. Wolff, J. Clooney, track 4 by J. Westerkamp and J. Hoffman, track 7 by J. Westerkamp and E. Wolff, and track 8 by J. Westerkamp, J. Hoffman, E. Wolff, and D. McCartney
Artwork and layout by Evan Wolff