what seems to be more than a musical masterpiece, Jacob the Rabbit is a well-written concept album based on the literary composition of Park’s frontman, Ladd Mitchell.   

 

The lyrics “With a catchy chorus and beat/ So they can sing along” from Weezer’s “Pork and Beans” must have been written about Park’s “Lepus Fugam” long before it came out.  The opening track on the EP immediately captures the listener from the second the rolling thunder begins, with a combination of frantic footsteps.  With a build up featuring guitars, synth, and lastly the drums, the heavy drop into the song is well executed and immediately invests the listener into a piece that exhibits excellent instrumentals and vocals.  The verse and chorus are instrumentally catchy and provide a pop sound with Dan Campbell-like (The Wonder Years, Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties) vocals.  The vocal harmonies executed over the “Echoes inside” lyrics in addition to the guitar solo fade out are a perfect transition to the continued story and will leave you wanting more.

 

“The Infection of El-Ahrairhah” is equally as catchy as “Lepus Fugam,” but it’s executed in a different way.  While not as instrumentally complex, the simplicity allows for a centralized focus on the beautiful clean vocals and the driving bass line throughout the verses.  “How long can this go on/ Asks the rabbit/ Asks the rabbit,” repeats throughout the piece, bringing the story of Jacob the Rabbit to life with beautiful harmonies and a poppy drumming performance.  

 

After listening to two killer previous tracks, expectations for Park’s “Tickling the Dragon’s Tail” are set at a pretty high level.  But as expected, Park once again provides wonderful vocals, impressive instrumentals, and intriguing lyrics to further Jacob the Rabbit’s story.  Newly introduced to “Tickling the Dragon’s Tail” are intricate guitar riffs, changing time-signatures, long awaited rough vocals, and a beautiful duet featuring the vocals of Mitchell and a mystery woman, whom’s lyrics deem her as a possible supporting character in Mitchell’s story.

 

While “Lepus Fugam,” “The Infection of El-Ahrairhah,” and “Tickling the Dragon’s Tail” are quite similar as far as the vocals and instrumentals go, Park does a fantastic job with their musical abilities by providing varying uses of screams, time-signatures, guitar riffs, upbeat-pop drums, and the integration of a new vocalist to further the story of what has immense potential to be an excellent prequel to their full-length concept album.  

 

The written story of Jacob the Rabbit can be read on their website. .  The EP was released on July 15th, 2014, on Bad Timing Records.  While the EP is available for digital purchase, it can also be purchased on limited vinyl pressings through Bad Timing Records.  There isn’t any information yet on upcoming tours or shows, be sure to keep a close eye on Park’s full-length album and any appearances that they may make.  It sucked to lose a great band for eight years, but the time-off may just have been what was needed to come back stronger than ever with music that would blow everyone away.  Check out the tracks off of Jacob the Rabbit or head over to Bad Timing Records to pick up one of the limited vinyl that have been pressed.