Labels: Some Records
Review by: Guy Baumann
It came with promo photos, publicists(details) and an extremely pretentious bio sheet from which I quote “It seems as though life and music can often be over saturated with superficiality, reservations blandness and an overall lack of substance. Pop-culture often centers itself solely on trends, names and fashion”
So why have ‘the ghost’ chosen to ride the post hardcore/emo rising surf, employed Steve Albini as producer. Oopps call me cynical….
The Ghost were formed from the ashes of The Wonder Years, Brian Moss(vocals,guitar) and Shane Stevens(guitar, vocals) quickly reunited and were joined by Brian’s best friend Jordan Scahich (bass) and later Randy Bleichner (drums). They have toured extensively with Thursday, Sensefield and Rival Schools amongst other and recorded this album in 4 days at Albini’s studio in Chicago.
Anyway enough proselytizing and back to the music – this is a good record, but it’s not a great record. There was a severe lack of originality here and it has so many influences I couldn’t separate them. Featuring classic post hardcore structure, slow, slow, quick, quick, scream – it reminded me very much of Thursday. There are some good tracks on it, ‘by the books’ is extremely rocking (as in back and forth) and melodic; the opener ‘Death by the Bay’ is full of emotion and anger and the last song ‘Red Slipper Red Wheels’ had a great sing along chorus which I imagine plays great live.
As you would expect from Albini the production is excellent the clarity of the individual instruments is something to behold (more Shellac than Big Black in terms of production). Also mentioned in the credits is Walter Schreifels and this album reminds me of Rival Schools not just in the sound but also the fact that although it is a good record and certainly worth owning/listening too, it is not unique enough to make it a great record.