Following a 2019 that saw him release three singles, Portland indie-pop maestro Jeff Bond has come out from behind the production booth again with a much needed aural salve in the form of his sugar-sweet single “Holiday.”
A noted producer, mixer and engineer for a whole slew of wide-ranging artists (Y La Bamba, And And And, The Dandy Warhols, Robin Bacior and Chanti Darling among them), Bond has foregone the more traditional route of writing and releasing an album by instead focusing on releasing select singles that highlight the varied pop-centric inspirations that he’s able to conjure.
“Holiday” is a song most every person should find the concept of relatable, even if we weren’t mired in the neverending limbo of a pandemic. Alas, things being as they are, the track takes on new significance, with the thrust of big synths, shimmery guitars and Bond’s saccharine vocals guiding a story about taking a few days to decompress with someone special. The song’s slightly dark wave ambience is juxtaposed by optimistic lyrics, and takes the shoegaze chill into cool environs, as Bond sings: “Feelin’ like throwing the towel in, but you know we can’t let the bad times win.”
Weezer wanted one. Madonna wanted one. Jeff Bond wants one, too. It’s safe to say we all need a holiday. Just wait until things are waaaaay safer, huh?
