Customer Reviews

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ventura, circa 2004. My first experience with the Souls was an unexpected one after hearing a set of theirs at Warped. The songs they sang sounded breathtaking and uplifting... the kind of songs that make your heart beat faster and get you excited. The first thing I did after witnessing this spectacle was to rush over to their booth and buy a cd. I chose this. Now, a couple years later and having heard everything they have released... this remains the best. It is more polished then anything prior and just plain better than their latest two (which are also great).
The album starts out with a bang with the punk classic "That Song" which is really cool because it is like you are the one they are singing about... putting the needle on the record and playing that song again.
The second song "Private Radio" is one of the best songs to sing along to with its simple yet catchy chorus and great verses... just a great song about music in general.
"True Believers" may be the best song in the Souls catalogue simply because it portrays who they are and gives us something from each member of the band. Amazing drums, guitar and vocals make this an instant classic about friendship.
"Better Life" is one of those songs that gets your emotions ivolved. Not because its sad but because it is SO uplifting. Outstanding song.
"The Something Special" is a slower song that portrays Greg's voice the best out of any song I've heard. It starts out slower than picks up speed resulting in one of those choruses you can't help but scream out.
"Broken Record" is a classic Souls sounding song and another one that shows their love for what they do.
"Lifetime" is a favorite of mine particularly for the instrumentation involved. Check out the bass work especially.
"Manthem"... another classic. Similiar to True Believers this is another song about loving life and being with friends. Previously my favorite song on the album for the longest time.
"Break-Up Song" is one of the best song about relationships I've ever heard... great vocals.
"Streetlight Serenade" is another one that will stick out immediately... another favorite.
"Late Bloomer" Probably the song I listen to least but in no means bad. Still a great song with cool guitar.
"No Comply" is my favorite song... ? maybe. But I love how it sounds like classic Souls with a clean, polished sound. Maybe the punkest song on the album
Lastly "Gone" wraps up this perfect album with a terrific anthem which sounds sad and happy at the same time in a beautiful, emotional punk ride that you will love.
If you are now getting into the Bouncing Souls... you need to start here to see the best of the them. Not new? then you should already have this...
10/10

I believe that this is by far the band's best work. The album is full of catchy and upbeat anthems. Yes, anthems. These are songs that you will sing out in your room or chant along with in your car. From beginning to end, this album delivers a surge of positive energy that never lets you down. This cd will lift your spirits as well as your heart rate. Greg's voice carries beautifully, while still staying true to their punk rock sound. The Pete's guitarwork is fairly simple, but holds the songs up, nonetheless. Bryan's bassage is innovative and catchy, and rolls on flawlessly through every track. And Michael's drumming is spot-on and aggressive, and it totally keeps you movin'. One of my favorite things about the Bouncing Souls is their lyrics, which are real and easy to relate to. They sing of good and bad times, old friends and new ones, love lost and love found, and about reconnecting with the things that make you happy. "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" will get you through the day floating on a cloud of pure liveliness and bliss. Who wouldn't love that? It's hard to narrow down my favorites on this album, but they'd have to be "Private Radio", "Lifetime", "Broken Record", "Late Bloomer", and "The Something Special". It's great stuff so go buy it!! And also, if you get the chance to see these guys live, go for it! Their live show is just as promising if not more than this album.

this album is one of those few.

i'll start with a few reviewers' clichés: i've heard a lot of nouveau punk bands and i have bought very few of their albums but... this one's worth it. not only one of the best punk albums i've heard but one of the best all round albums. at least in my all time top twenty.

there's not one track you'd want to bother getting up to skip past and almost every one sounds like it deserves to be a top ten single. a great voice, great basslines, a very simple and winning formula to the songs. good lyrics! not one line that makes you cringe and some that are well worth remembering: "i'm no good, you're no better, wouldn't we be perfect together?"

one of the reviews said that the down to earth nature of this album renders it somewhat inconsequential. i disagree with this i think it makes it all the more real and emotional and inspirational to a regular person (or anyone else for that matter). even the title 'how i spent my summer vacation' just makes you think of what fantastic things human beings are capable of.

my faourite tracks: true believers, the something special, late bloomer

...this cd is great to hear when there is so much poser punk out there. apparently, legit punk rock bands have been laying low with new material and i got tired of hearing the same stuff over and over. if youve been leaning away from punk lately, listen to this album. it'll bring back the memories and trap you in the state of mind once again! this cd is a great diversion from the normal mold. thats the bouncing souls way. this album is great. i recommend picking it up because it is blatant, in-your-face, fun punk rock. the world needed a charge of this kind of energy in the punk scene (for me at least). i definitly give the band credit. their style has matured without a loss of quality - thats a good thing. no more "throwing toilets". this ranks up with the great "maniacal laughter". the world is a better place now that this cd is released. no seriously, buy it. you will not be disappointed.

This time around the Souls loose some of the raw energy of 'Maniacal Laughter' in exchange for a decidedly richer, more heartfelt sound. And you know what: it's got way more impact. Despite the light subject matter (bikes, girls, summer vacation) they nail each song home with great vocals, ripping guitars, and hooks galore. They really know how to craft a song and build it up. Every song has a message and is memorable in their own way. It's definitely the best feel-good punk available. And I hesitate to use the word 'punk', because although it's certaily rock sped up, it does have just a good old rock and roll feel to it...perhaps the Souls have transcended the whole punk thing. Am I overthinking this? Yes. The best word about this is: put on your headphones, get on your bike and speed through your neighborhood listening to this.

I love my pop/punk fun fast, furious and full of life, not cool produced and prepared in a studio like Avril or the influx of boys hitting the MTV circuit. Luckily Bouncing Souls is one of a handfull of bands that not only continues to record new CDs but actually seems to have fun doing them.

Combining all the young angst of boys younger than them, they still manage to come up with songs about BMX bikes, girls and music, all the elements of the fun side of punk pop. How I Spent My Summer Vacation was my first foray into the bouncing world of Bouncing Souls and being released on May 22nd in 2001, (one of my birthdays) adds a little something to it - but most importantly it's just fun, fast and schock full of melody.

"That Song" is catchy, "Lifetime" is melodic, "Manthem" is fun; and I love songs about music and its influences on one's own youth - and Bouncing Souls addresses this idea a lot particularly in the closing number (and my fav) "Gone". As a whole, it's all kind of like Blink-182 but with a little less production and it's always fun.

Straight up, honest, good rock. Bouncing souls rule. You hear the emotion in every song. Rock on fools! 3025937025

The title is ironic, because the last Summer Vacation I took happened to be the 2001 Vans Warped Tour and as a result, I got to see these guys play everyday for 2 months! The Souls are an unbelievable band musically, but what sets them apart from others is how they are able to defy convention. They deliver energy without having to resort to anger. They convey meaning without having to preach. They imply emotion without having to be dramatic. The songs on this album demonstrate this very well. The songs reflect on friendship, love, self-doubt, fear, joy and hope. Another thing about the Souls is that their music is so damn accessable. At times it's almost as though they have plucked pages from your diary and set it to music. Better yet, these thoughts seem to resolve themselves in the music. Being able to communicate such things has been the reason why the Souls have developed such a devoted audience. They are one of the few bands I have seen where the performance is an entirely mutual and shared experience between performers and audience, where such distinctions between the two are suspended entirely. This record gives the listener a little taste of that.

Anyone who does not have this CD in their collection is a deprived punker. I mean come on! Its The Bouncing Souls right?! The first three or four songs bring you up like speed, and the rest of the CD is like one big high. Plus, True Believers is one of my favorite punk songs. Sick of only hearing about girlfriends in "Punk Rock?" Want something harder, but with the same upbeat energy? Buy this album now!...

From the opening power chords, How I Spent My Summer Vacation takes off with some of the best music the Souls have yet put out. The first single, "True Believers", is incredible. The rest of album does not disappoint. With the exception of one ballad, the album is face-paced, filled with the usual up-beat punk lyrics that make the Souls so unique. This album is worth an investment. Also check out Hopeless Romantic.