The Vaudeville Smash - Love Yachts Geronimo EP (17/08/2011)
Love Yachts Geronimo is the second EP from Melbourne nouveau yacht rock band The Vaudeville Smash. For those unfamiliar with the yacht rock genre, it is used to retrospectively describe the smooth pop-rock music that was popular in the late-70s and early 80s. Think Hall & Oates, Kenny Loggins, Toto - the kind of music enjoyed by yacht owners while out for a sail.
While some might consider those classic yacht rockers to be a bit daggy or somewhat of a guilty pleasure, it's certainly not the case for The Vaudeville Smash. Love Yachts Geronimo kicks off with Body Double - possibly one of the catchiest songs ever. You can't listen to it without having it constantly stuck in your head for days after. The EP's lead single Roller Disco captures all the best aspects of yacht rock: falsetto vocals, smooth synth, and a flute solo.
None of the tracks on Love Yachts Geronimo would be out of place on the soundtrack to an 80s teen movie - in particular Doris Winter. You can just imagine it playing behind a montage when the film's female protagonist achieves what everyone told her was impossible. On the other hand, you'd probably rather not picture anything to go with the EP's closing track Dirty Old Man (Come Inside) (He is nearly 80 but he loves to party. Experience has made him a hit with all the ladies) but it is still another ridiculously catchy song with its disco hook and spoken-word outro.
The Vaudeville Smash have taken a fresh approach to the yacht rock genre to produce an EP which has a very smooth, polished sound but still comes across as real music played by very talented musicians. Sure, it's a little bit cheesy, but that's what makes it so fun and catchy to listen to!
Chelsea McIntyre
While some might consider those classic yacht rockers to be a bit daggy or somewhat of a guilty pleasure, it's certainly not the case for The Vaudeville Smash. Love Yachts Geronimo kicks off with Body Double - possibly one of the catchiest songs ever. You can't listen to it without having it constantly stuck in your head for days after. The EP's lead single Roller Disco captures all the best aspects of yacht rock: falsetto vocals, smooth synth, and a flute solo.
None of the tracks on Love Yachts Geronimo would be out of place on the soundtrack to an 80s teen movie - in particular Doris Winter. You can just imagine it playing behind a montage when the film's female protagonist achieves what everyone told her was impossible. On the other hand, you'd probably rather not picture anything to go with the EP's closing track Dirty Old Man (Come Inside) (He is nearly 80 but he loves to party. Experience has made him a hit with all the ladies) but it is still another ridiculously catchy song with its disco hook and spoken-word outro.
The Vaudeville Smash have taken a fresh approach to the yacht rock genre to produce an EP which has a very smooth, polished sound but still comes across as real music played by very talented musicians. Sure, it's a little bit cheesy, but that's what makes it so fun and catchy to listen to!
Chelsea McIntyre