FOR FANS OF: Matt & Kim, Arcade Fire, The Moldy Peaches
Just in time for Valentine's Day, The Vaughns, have released their EP, rom-coms & takeout. It dropped on January 29th, 2021. The Vaughns are from New Jersey, and consist of members of Anna Lies and Ryan Kenter. The Vaughns have been touring the East Coast's DIY-scenes since they formed in 2014. The previous year brought them a record deal, a lineup change, and a global pandemic, all of which they've used to dive deeper than ever before into their songwriting. rom-coms & takeout is just 3 tracks that are about feelings that come with romantic love - infatuation, falling in love for real, and accepting the end of it.
The Vaughns used quarantine to write rom-coms & takeout, while being inspired by a variety of genres, from folk to pop. To me, it's reminiscent of the indie music of the late 00's. It sounds like that unique, quirky sound you'd hear in a new hipster coffee shop, or in a indie movie starring Zooey Deschanel, but updated to 2021. It's certainly a sound that is fresh and authentic. "Bushwick" is the first song on the EP, and it's about reflecting on a relationship that's ended. It's not easy to get over a breakup, especially when the other half seems happier without you, but it'll be okay. Breakups happen, and like the song suggests, you'll find love once again.
"All Weekend" is the second track, and it reminds me of the beginning of a feel-good movie. It makes me picture a young, early 20-something just-graduated-from-college couple who are running around their new apartment together in the city. They're in love, the kind of mushy, infatuated love where all you see is each other, ignoring the bad in the other person. It's just you, them, rom-coms, and take out.
"Rania" is the last track and it's about feeling sentimental, it's about yearning for a real, serious relationship. It's about when you realize you're falling in love, real love, and you want to be with them all of the time. "Rania" is about the kind of romantic love that resides in a warm cup of tea, one that's being shared with the person you like the most in the world on a rainy, early morning. A quiet, all-encompassing love that you hope is not only requited, but lasts for a very long time.
Overall, rom-coms & takeout is like a movie for your ears, made for you to picture personally. It's about romantic love and the journey it can often take. It's a set of songs that inspire novels and scripts to be written. It's beautifully written and recorded, and I can't wait to hear whatever The Vaughns release next.
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