Vacation (Deluxe Edition)

The Blank Tapes are essentially the work of Matt Adams, who claims to have hundreds of songs fully formed inside his head. This project represents his re-imagining of the mid-'60s, where his songs sit next to the works of Ray Davies, Brian Wilson, and other songwriters who were just discovering what they could do with the album format. A tune such as "Coast to Coast" could've been recorded in 1965, and Adams makes no attempt to dissuade this impression. His production is strikingly small and deliberate, with each voice and instrument given a specific chore. "Tamarind Seeds" strategically obscures the vocal behind some lightly distorted guitar and something that may or may not be an actual mellotron. "Pearl" serves as a love song to his drummer, Pearl Charles. "Workin'" sounds like he's finally met up with Davies for a lazy day in Waikiki where they both imagine what it is that other people do with their lives. Except in Adams' case, he likely does have a job to return to once the recording sessions are over.