Beach Bunny – Tunnel Vision

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The third full-length record from Chicago Alt Rock band, Beach Bunny, is a breezy set of songs that play out well from front to back. Tunnel Vision is the band’s first release since the departure of guitarist Matt Henkels, and sees Beach Bunny getting into a comfortable groove as a three-piece band. The band’s primary songwriter, Lili Trifilio (vocals/guitar), remains as captivating as she’s ever been, and Beach Bunny re-establish themselves as a key artist to watch in the Alternative Rock scene. Over the course of the ten songs found on Tunnel Vision, Beach Bunny firmly showcase why they have such a strong and loyal following of fans with their slick songwriting, paired with memorable and plentiful hooks.

”Mr. Predictable” sets the stage for Trifilio’s headspace as she opens with, “Three steps from freaking out / Art school project / I’m working on myself, the world is changing for the worst,” and it’s hard to not agree with this sentiment. As the world around us spirals out of control, Beach Bunny remains a steady and reliable hand in the chaos. The electric guitar-driven track never overstays its welcome, and makes for a memorable opener on Tunnel Vision. “Big Pink Bubble” is a bit more somber, as Trifilio’s vocal delivery leans into her lower vocal register as she explains, “I’m driving in the back seat / Nothing’s gonna hurt me / If I can keep the feeling down / Yeah, I’ll stay out of trouble in my big pink bubble / Until it all comes back around,” that recounts the days of being young and staying in our own headspace to block out the excess noise.

”Chasm” picks up the pace a bit as drummer Jon Alvarado and bassist/guitarist Anthony Vaccaro set the tone and provide the right canvas for Trifilio’s crisp and pointed vocal performance. The title track is the most experimental song in the set and it establishes a cool guitar groove over some atmospheric elements added into the mix. The chorus of, “Tunnel vision leads me to the next decision / Maybe I had chose these lessons at a different time / I don’t trust my own opinions and my intuition’s terrible at telling left from right / I never see the signs,” does a good job of describing the feeling of being a bit stuck in our ways with “blinders” on, while the guitar breakdown after the chorus is in the same vein of dance rock bands like Walk The Moon and Fitz & The Tantrums.

Other songs like “Clueless” grapple with the concept of getting older as Trifilio sings, “Thought I’d be a different person / But it’s just a different life / If I got married tomorrow / I’d feel like a teenage wife / I am older at the parties / Thought that wouldn’t bother me / I can tell who’s turning 30 verses being 23.” It’s another key relatable concept, and the band takes it all in stride over some great instrumentation. “Pixie Cut” is a more uptempo track that rocks with some punk rock energy and offers the rewarding chorus about self-doubt: “I would give my brain a pixie cut / If it would make the noises all shut up / Trim the sides, buzz the top / If it would get the monologue to stop.”

”Vertigo” is a jangly emo rock song about the complexities of friendships and also romantic relationships. It’s a different type of song that Beach Bunny have done in the past, and furthers the artistic direction of the band as a whole. “Violence” follows with a bass-heavy sound that paves way for a shimmering chorus, as Trifilio sings with lofty vocals, “And you’re supposed to find a meaning / Don’t get eaten by the dark / The art of living paints shadows in my heart / There, in my heart.” The advice of not letting the darker thoughts overwhelm the good is solid input, and highlights the substance behind Beach Bunny’s lyrics.

The closing duo of the pretty straight-forward guitar rock of “Just Around The Corner” meshes well with the synth-driven “Cycles” that wraps up the latest chapter in Beach Bunny’s self-discovery. For a record that is called Tunnel Vision, the band still covers a lot of ground in their stylistic choices made over these songs that play out in an effortlessly smooth fashion. Beach Bunny continues to impress on their latest record that both appeases longtime fans as much as it opens the door for new fans to join the bandwagon.

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