So here’s the back story: Band write (arguably) groundbreaking pop-punk album. Band gets signed by Pete Wentz to Decaydance Records. Band goes global, sell millions, play massive festivals and receive obligatory ‘they were much better when no-one knew them’ backlash. Fifty percent of band quit (including the primary song writer), disappear for the best part of a year, finally resurfacing in a retro 60s pop outfit. Enter The Young Veins. Whatever the reasons Ryan Ross and Jon Walker had for leaving Panic! At The Disco, they certainly threw a curveball when deciding what to do next. ‘Take A Vacation!’ is as far removed from anything Panic did as is humanly feasible – it’s basically ‘Oh! Inverted World’ (you know, by The Shins) Part II. Only less…depressing. And with less Zach Braff.
‘Take A Vacation!’ feels like a holiday record; the soundtrack to a lazy summer in 60s America. Listening to ‘Young Veins (Die Tonight)’ and ‘Cape Town‘ there’s a real Everly Brothers/Beach Boys feel to the instrumentation and it’s just got that whole Summer vibe down. It’s uplifting and engaging to say the least, but it’s relaxing all the same. Things never get too busy – these are just simple, gentle pop songs written with rose-tinted specs on.
It’s likely that The Young Veins will struggle to replicate the success of the band that put Ryan Ross and Jon Walker on a worldwide platform. However, what The Young Veins lack in mainstream appeal, they make up for in nostalgic charm and that’s good enough by our books.