Published on Mar 4, 2005
“Punk” is defined as: any of various substances that smolder
when ignited, used to light fireworks. Punk is also a fiery,
hard-hitting, metal-pounding form of rock, based on rebellion and
an in-your-face, I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude. Not a lot of
smoldering… more like fury and vengeance.
Back in the day, most often punk was screamed and screeched into
a microphone, often defeating its own purpose of self-expression.
Nihilism was frequently the basis for writing. Obscenities were
used to state the anger felt due to boredom and frustration. With a
big sigh of relief, it has evolved from the original sound of short
lyrical phrases and hardcore repetitive riffs to a more
intelligent, multi-layered form of writing both musically and
lyrically. The compositions are more diverse and definitely more
complete now. The drama is still there, but it has refined and is
now elevating the music to another level.
The Vacancy is a band of three friends.
Heart Attack is their debut full-length CD. They function
flawlessly and as a team: Ben Dietels (vocals and guitars) is the
main songwriter and front man, Adam Sacco (bass) is the business
man and booker, and Mike Calhoun (drums and percussion) does
whatever is left to be done.
“In the Backseat” is a slam-your-head-against-the-dash kind of
sound that punk is famous for. This is a love song, which might
seem like a contradiction, but even punkers need lovin’. The lyrics
are catchy and well-written. Ben is the lyricist and the words pour
from his heart.
“Anthem” curtails the pace, if that is possible, and the
cleaner, clearer vocals are a welcome change. There is a more
equitable balance between the music and the vocals and it’s
preferable to having to strain to hear the words buried by the
extreme music. I don’t like straining to hear the refrains; it
makes me wonder what they’re covering up. “Debutante” exposes the
heart of the writer, describing wanting to crush the self-centered
attitude of an ex. The vocals are a bit rough and do shred your
ears a bit, but hey, that’s punk! Not complaining, but my ears are
still ringing.
Being blue-eyed myself, I wanted to like “Blue Eyes.” It’s a
song of pain and the angst of another disrupted love affair. I was
in pain when listening to it though; a bit too repetitious for this
listener. “Get Up, Get Out” shares what we have all felt at one
time; there is a passionate depth and a controlled intensity to the
music.
This band has all the trademarks of a soft-punk personality.
They put feeling into their poetic writings and yet they still
hammer the guitar, slamming the music into the innermost part of
your ears and eating your brain with their intensity.
The threesome admits that they get a little “big-headed” at
times, but know that they must keep things in control and stay
focused. I think they’re doing quite well so far. They have the
needed energy and drive, yet their sound is well-rounded and
stylish. They incorporate the fury of punk with the melody of rock.
Their strength is in the poetic refrains; they truthfully express
themselves lyrically without forcing their message down your
throat.