Bad Vacation

Bad Vacation finds indie singer/songwriter Liza Anne taking the plunge into a world of brilliant color. She balanced her anxieties with melody quite dexterously on 2018s Fine But Dying, but its vibe was ultimately subdued, the kind of record designed for long afternoons or evenings of contemplation. Liza Anne touches upon many similar lyrical themes throughout Bad Vacation -- at its core, its an album about struggling through a bad relationship -- but the record positively bursts with energy and Day-Glo hooks. Working with producers Micah Tawlks and Kyle Ryan, Liza Anne dresses her sharply constructed songs with new wave affectations, a template that allows her to indulge in both spiky punk and icy introspection along with the slightest hint of guitar-saturated power pop (Bummer Days). The surface is so sunny that it takes a moment for the roiling emotions to register, but the tension between the bright pop and introspection gives the record some kinetic energy. Plus, Liza Anne isnt merely bloodletting here, shes writing with barbed wit and raw feeling, a combination that gives Bad Vacation an impact that lasts long beyond its initial pop dazzle. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine