The Vacation

Released in 2005, the Tony Hoffer-produced Band from World War Zero did little to justify the Vacation’s reputation as a ferocious live act. Compressed and muted, the album rarely hinted at the Tegel brothers’ explosive showmanship, as Hoffer, renowned for the studio polish he applied to the works of Beck and Air, sadly tamed the Vacation’s unruly din. Resequenced and remastered by noted fan and fellow Los Angeles resident Rick Rubin, Band from World War Zero has been rechristened The Vacation to mark its major-label release, courtesy of American Recordings. Rubin’s involvement is audible on several cuts, most notably on “Trash,” positioned as the album’s sleezy, bottom-heavy climax. But even the bearded one has trouble mussing slickly superficial songs like “Hollywood Forever” and “No Hard Feelings,” which tread dangerously close to power-ballad territory. Despite Rubin’s best efforts to bridge the gap, most of these songs, live vs. on record, are still a study in contrasts.