Vacation (Big Scary album)
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Vacation
| type = studio
| artist = Big Scary
| cover = Vacation_by_Big_Scary.png
| released = {{Start date|2011|10|07|df=y}}
| recorded =
| studio = *Airlock Studios (Brisbane)
- The Ark Studios (Brisbane)
| genre = Pop rock{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/vacation-mw0002246443|title=Vacation CD|website=Allmusic|access-date=2 May 2021}}
| length = {{duration|m=37|s=18}}
| label = Big Scary
| producer = Sean Cook
| prev_title = The Big Scary Four Seasons
| prev_year = 2010
| next_title = Not Art
| next_year = 2013
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Vacation
| type = studio
| single1 = Mixtape
| single1date = July 2011{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/mix-tape-single/1512624515/ |title=Mixtape – Single by Big Scary on Apple Music |publisher=Apple Music|date=July 2011 |access-date=9 August 2020}}
| single2 = Gladiator
| single2date = September 2011{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/gladiator-single/1512624565/ |title=Gladiator – Single by Big Scary on Apple Music |publisher=Apple Music |date=September 2011|access-date=9 August 2020}}
| single3 = Leaving Home
| single3date = February 2012{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4GAK92u_f8 |title=Big Scary - Leaving Home *Official Video* (Vacation LP 2011) |publisher=YouTube|date=3 March 2012 |access-date=1 May 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.beat.com.au/big-scary-3/|title=Big Scary 2012|website=Beat Magazine|date=2012|access-date=1 May 2021}}
| single4 = Fallen Away
| single4date = June 2012{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPVimlb_ghM |title=Big Scary - Falling Away *Official Video* (Vacation LP 2011) |publisher=YouTube|date=20 June 2012 |accessdate=1 May 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.earbuddy.net/4382/video-big-scary-falling-away.html/videos|title=Australian band Big Scary have released a new video for their single, "Falling Away"|website=Ear Buddy|date=June 2012|access-date=1 May 2021}}
}}
}}
Vacation is the debut studio album by Australian indie pop duo Big Scary. It was released on 7 October 2011. The album debuted and peaked at number 37 on the ARIA Charts.
At the J Awards of 2011, the album was nominated for Australian Album of the Year.{{cite web|title = The J Award 2011|website = Triple J|url = https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/jawards/11/|publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation|year = 2011|accessdate =15 August 2020}}
Background
Big Scary formed in 2006 by Tom Iansek and Joanna Syme, released seven extended plays between 2008 and 2010 and were a constant fixture on Triple J in these years.{{cite web|url=https://www.beat.com.au/big-scary-vacation/|title=Big Scary : Vacation|website=Beat Magazine|date=2011|access-date=2 May 2021}} In July 2011, the duo released "Mixtape" followed by "Gladiator" in September 2011, alongside the album's announcement.
Critical reception
Beat Magazine called Vacation "an immensely interesting album" highlighting "Falling Away" as the album highlight saying "simple yet evocative piano is driven by steady percussion, all of which is accentuated by dreamy vocals."
Melissa Holden from Purple Sneakers called "Leaving Home" as "the pinnacle of the album" saying "[it] is a beautiful ballad which exquisitely combines heartfelt lyrics, driving drums, a simple yet effective riff and a culminating climax which seems to fill the listener with an inexplicable sense of fullness. The last minute of the track is pure perfection, with a swooning synth, grungy guitar and emotive vocal." Holden said "The album is packed to the punch with hitting tracks that convince the listener to the musician's talent in both songwriting and instrumentation. If you haven't already bought the album, I fully insist you go out there and support this Melbourne duo, you won't regret it."{{cite web|url=https://purplesneakers.com.au/2011/10/review-big-scary-vacation/|title=Review Big Scary Vacation|website=Purple Sneakers|date=2011|access-date=2 May 2021}}
Dom Alessio from Triple J said "What I love so much about Big Scary's debut is how diverse it is. They effortlessly go from White Stripes-esque rockers like 'Purple' to plaintive ballads like 'Bad Friends', and the record still manages to sound cohesive and unified. Vacation beautifully embodies the "less is more" philosophy of Big Scary's fantastic, minimalist pop music."{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/jawards/11/artists/bigscary.htm|title=Big Scary Vacation|website=ABC|date=2011|access-date=2 May 2021}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Vacation track listing
| total_length = 37:18
| title1 = Gladiator
| writer1 = {{hlist|Tom Iansek|Joanna Syme}}
| length1 = 3:07
| title2 = Leaving Home
| writer2 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}}
| length2 = 3:59
| title3 = Mix Tape
| writer3 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}}
| length3 = 3:35
| title4 = Purple
| writer4 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}}
| length4 = 3:34
| title5 = Child in a Tree
| writer5 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}}
| length5 = 3:39
| title6 = Bad Friends
| writer6 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}}
| length6 = 3:58
| title7 = Got It, Lost It
| writer7 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}}
| length7 = 4:24
| title8 = Falling Away
| writer8 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}}
| length8 = 4:06
| title9 = Of Desire
| writer9 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}}
| length9 = 3:27
| title10 = Rolling By
| writer10 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}}
| length10 = 2:37
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for Vacation ! scope="col"| Chart (2011) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|Australia|37|artist=Big Scary|album=Vacation|rowheader=true|accessdate=2 May 2021}} |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release history for Vacation !Country !Date !Format !Label !Catalogue | |
| rowspan="2" scope="row" | Australia
|7 October 2011 ||{{hlist|CD|digital download|LP}} |{{hlist|Big Scary}} |BS04/BS05 | |
|---|---|
| 2014 | {{hlist|LP (re-release)}}
|{{hlist|Pieater}} |PIE004LP |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Big Scary}}
{{Authority control}}