By Eileen Fortner, Contributor 

[Keeled Scales; 2024] 

Rating: 7/10  

Key Tracks: “Sick,” “Set the Stage,” “Fantasy”

The Atlanta-based indie band Lunar Vacation just released its sophomore album, Everything Matters, Everything’s Fire. Through this album, it has become apparent that the band has matured not just as people, but as musicians too. This album marks a big change in their career. It’s clear throughout the album that a huge change within their artistry is within their production, especially with their mixing. The band graduated from a small high school group of friends playing music to a successful indie band with a large fanbase pushing them to grow and learn. 

Lunar Vacation has always been about playing music they love and staying true to themselves, and this new release is just that. The first thing that always sticks out when it comes to any of Lunar Vacation’s songs is Gep Repasky’s voice. From their very first release, Repasky’s voice has shined through. There is a stark difference between these two releases – the experimental bits that the band has left behind such as extra voice memos like in “Daytime” from their second EP Artifical Flavors. Everything Matters, Everything’s Fire explores the art of keeping it simple, focusing on the fundamental bits like clean guitar riffs and background vocals. 

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This album has one of the strongest starts to an album I have ever seen. “Sick” is catchy; it’s an earworm that brings the listener in from the very start. From the very start, I was hooked with this album. The sound is very similar to Inside Every Fig is a Dead Wasp. This album served them well once and with a better, cleaner sound it was bound to serve them right again. 

Along with amazing vocals from Gep Repasky like always, this time, we are gifted with drums from Connor Dowd. We’re given these amazing drum bits scattered throughout the album that are cleaner than we have ever heard and this is showcased in “Erase the B’s.” Not only are we blessed with amazing drums in the very beginning, but the album closes out with “You Shouldn’t Be,” which showcases Dowd from beginning to end.

Not only does “Erase the B’s” showcase Dowd on the drums but it was also recorded in one take. In an interview with Wonderland Magazine, Rapasky said, “We didn’t intend on choosing a live take for the song but, after a few rounds of playing through the song together, it felt right to get it in one go, even the vocals.” This live take is as equally good as any other song in the album, this adds to the musicality that Lunar Vacation as a band has gained over the years. 

This album is probably my favorite release of theirs yet. When I listen to it, I am reminded of their Swell EP, especially the track “Fantasy.” Lunar Vacation has that sound that I strongly believe anyone can love. Everything Matters, Everything’s Fire is one of those albums you can throw on while you’re working, cleaning, or hanging out with friends- really at any time you can bump these tracks.

 
Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/album/0BgTMQuRIC2K7Ws6B1QWr3?si=56n_HwUvRFmyHJqjiCsqMw