Vistas


Band members                             Related acts

  line up 1  (2016-present)

- Jamie Law -- bass, backing vocals

- Prentice Robertson -- vocals, guitar, keyboards

- Dylan Rush -- lead guitar, backing vocals

 

  supporting musicians:

- Graham McDonald -- drums, percussion

 

 

 

- none known

 


 

Genre: rock

Rating: 4 stars ****

Title:  Everything Changes In the End

Company: Retrospect

Catalog:  RR001LPB
Year:
 2020

Country/State: Edinburgh, Scotland

Grade (cover/record): NM / NM

Comments: sealed

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 32000

Price: $50.00

Vistas one of my Coronavirus-era discoveries ...  While in quarantine and on an extended telework arrangement with my employer,  I got in the habit of waking up early and walking four or five miles before a lot of other people were out on the trails.  During one of those walks I was listing to an NPR podcast which played a snippet of something by Vista.  I'd never heard of the band, didn't catch the song title and wasn't even sure that I'd got the band name right.  While the song snippet was a little bouncy for 5:30 in the morning  (it turned out to be 'Sucker'), I liked what I'd heard and tracked down a copy of their newly minted LP "Everything Changes In the End".  

 

Bassist Jamie Law, singer/guitarist Prentice Robertson and lead guitarist Dylan Rush met in high school.  They formed The Vistas in 2016 (explaining why they looked so young in promotional materials). Over the next four three years the trio toured extensively, self-issuing a digital four track EP "Medicine" that was subsequently reissued on vinyl by the small Manchester Lab label as 2019's "Hello", as well as issuing a pair of singles:

2018's "Medicine" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Like An American - 3:03

2.) Eighteen - 3:21

 

(side 2)

1.) Headspace - 3:03

2.) Fade - 4:08

 

 

2018's "Hello" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Like An American - 3:03

2.) Eighteen - 3:21

 

(side 2)

1.) Headspace - 3:03

2.) Fade - 4:08

 

- 2018's 'Tigerblood' b/w 'Hold Me' (Lab Records)

- 2019's 'Fade' b/w 'Like an American' (self released)

 

 

There's also a 2018 "shared" EP.  Released by Lab Records, side one features two tracks by the band Marsicans, while the flip side featured two Vistas tracks:

"Marsicans x Vistas" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Wake Up Freya 

2.) Throw Ourselves In

 

(side 2)

1.) Calm

2.) Retrospect

 

 

 

Produced by Rich Turvey at sessions in Paar Street Studios Liverpool and Big Jelly Studios Ramsgate,  everything on "Everything Changes In the End" screamed summer breakout.  The album cover and many of the lyrics (there was even a song entitled 'Summer') ...  all underscored a summer flavor.  Certainly an interesting feel in the season of this COVID-19 pandemic  Given how catchy the majority of these thirteen tracks were, the marketing major in me couldn't help but feel this was an album that had been put together with one goal - selling lots and lots of records during the Summer months.  Admittedly that's the goal of most records (okay, maybe not Lou Reed's "Metal Machine Music"), but it's seldom as overt as this collection.  I'm not a songwriter, but listening to songs like the title track, 'Teenage Blues' and ''Sucker' it seemed like these guys sat down and dissected the last thirty years of top-40 music looking to come up with the DNA of a hit record.  In the process they'd came up with a Scottish recipe - strong melody; dash of uplifting, yearning lyrics, throw in a touch of Big Country earnestness, bit of punk brashness and energy, a little Scottish twang on Prentice Robertson's vocals and wherever possible add in some soccer chants.  And while the cynic in me thought classic sellout, months later I am still humming half of these tunes.  Damn it.  Yeah, tracks like '15 Years' and 'Shout' weren't going to change the world, but given the confusion, uncertainty and pressures so many people are currently confronting, maybe that isn't necessary.  Perhaps taking your mind off of all the other concerns we're facing with a couple of minutes of pure audio enjoyment is enough of a gift for most of us.  

 

At any other time these guys would have been a major breakout act.  Sadly 2020 isn't a normal year and with no way to effective tour (planned appearances as SXSW and a UK tour were cancelled) and limited opportunities to promote the album, outside of Scotland, Vistas' debut did little commercially.  It saddens me, but I'm going to enjoy every moment of the LP.

 

By the way, YouTube has a great 20 minute clip on the group's history and the making of the LP:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQDZJo6r9JI

 

"Everything Changes In the End" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Intro (instrumental)  (Prentice Robertson - Jacob Campbell)  - 0:50   rating: ** stars

the opening instrumental 'Intro' was atypical for the band, sounding like something that had been lifted from a sci-fi soundtrack.  Always wondered why it was on the album ... 

2.) Everything Changes In the End  (Prentice Robertson - Jacob Campbell) - 3:17  rating: **** stars

With the addition of some synthesizers washes, the rollicking  title track epitomized their formula with suitably impressive results.  And once again the result was a song that wouldn't leave my cranial play list.  After three months I still find myself humming the tune at odd moments.  Here's a link to the promotional video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT7z2WpFIng

3.) Teenage Blues  (Prentice Robertson - Jacob Campbell) - 2:38  rating: **** stars

The first song they completed for the LP, I guess I'm just a sucker for Scottish band's with a knack for crunching pop melodies and 'Teenage Blues' had a radio friendly melody that should had made them major stars.  They also recorded a sweet video to go with the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjWM15MiVmc  And for anyone who thought these guys were just a studio entity, check out this acoustic performance - just Robertson on piano: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpvA9ddxM3k   The song was tapped as the debut digital single

4.) 15 Years  (Prentice Robertson - Jacob Campbell) - 2:49  rating: **** stars

Written during the actually recording sessions and envisioned as a "thank you" for their good fortune and their dedicated fan base, I wonder if it would be possible for someone to just sit still through '15 Years'?   Showcasing a crunching, but highly commercial melody and some of those group shouted backing vocals, the tune should have blanketed airwaves.  And the video they did showcasing Vistas fans was simply wonderful.

5.) Sucker  (Prentice Robertson - Jacob Campbell) - 3:36  rating: **** stars

Geez, 'Sucker' sounded like these guys had spent the last year dissecting Western pop music and figuring out the mechanics of creating a top-10 hit.  Virtually everything here screamed massive hit - buoyant melody; addictive chorus; enthusiastic lyrics; soccer chants and a tasty little guitar solo.   How did radio miss this one?  The band also filmed a cute, though heart crushing video for the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RElvnl6Yk40   The track served as the second digital single.

6.) Summer  (Prentice Robertson - Jacob Campbell) - 4:03  rating: **** stars

Big Country circa 2020 ...  'Summer' was one of the first songs the band recorded - a big, panoramic  ballad that somehow seemed like the perfect song to release in the midst of a world-wide pandemic.  The tune just seemed to scream please let peoples' lives get back to some semblance of normality.  Reminding me of Terry Gilliam's work for Monty Python, the band released another great video for the song:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RElvnl6Yk40

7.) Tigerblood  (Prentice Robertson - Jacob Campbell) - 3:22  rating: **** stars

It was kind of lost in the muddy mix, but Rush' fuzz drenched guitar riff is what made the rocker 'Tigerblood' such a great garage rock track.  Apparently a lot of people know the song as a result of it being used on the  2019 Dream League Soccer app.  Of course there's a video for the tune:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eqZyUi-hvo   As mentioned, the song had previously been released as a vinyl single:

- 2018's 'Tigerblood' b/w 'Hold Me' (Lab Records)

 

(side 2)

1.) The Love You Give  (Prentice Robertson - Jacob Campbell) - 3:00   rating: *** stars

It wasn't bad, but 'The Love You Give' was also the first song that didn't knock me over ...  With the exception of a blazing Rush solo, it was a case where their formula was taken to an extreme.  I almost like this Robertson's' solo performance better:

2.) Shout  (Prentice Robertson - Jacob Campbell) - 2:36  rating: **** stars

Powered by the patented group shouted vocals, 'Shout' was a great little rocker.  Bet this one is a riot to hear in a live setting.

3.) You and Me  (Prentice Robertson - Jacob Campbell) - 2:21   rating: *** stars

One consistent criticism I've seen of the album focuses on the lack of versatility and with 'You and Me' I can hear a little of the point.  The song certainly had a great chorus and on another album it might have been a standout performance, but here it came off as an also-ran performance.  

4.) Sentimental  (Prentice Robertson - Jacob Campbell) - 3:51  rating: **** stars

Another album highlight for me, the aptly titled 'Sentimental' was apparently inspired by having been on the road and away from home for a lengthy period. And if you were expecting a sappy ballad - think again.  Nice tune showcaasing Jamie Law's awesome bass moves.

5.) Retrospect  (Prentice Robertson - Jacob Campbell) - 3:26  rating: **** stars

'retrospect' was another previously issued track - in this case, it had been one of two sngs on their 2018 "shared" EP with Marsicans.   It's worth hearing just for the double claps ...   This joyful three minutes would have been my choice for the leadoff single.  Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHr4fgxbED0  Taken from sessions at BBC Scotland,  YouTube has a great live performance of the tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JMbBGF8yjM 

6.) November  (Prentice Robertson - Jacob Campbell) - 5:47  rating: **** stars

Having reached the conclusion these guys only had one gear - rockin', 'November' slowed things down with a true ballad.  Complete with thoughtful lyrics and a complete absence of soccer chants, it was a pretty way to end the album.   

 

 

The band has a small website at:  https://vistasmusic.com/

 

 

 

 

 

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