The Pittsburgh outfit The Ghost Club have plenty of thoughts about the ills of today’s society, and that’s all covered in 10 tracks here via their powerful version of rock that’s multi-faceted, stylish and sincere.
The bright appeal of “I’m Sold” gets the listen off to a warm start, where Domenic Dunegan’s vivid singing guides Christian Laliberte’s thumping drums and Jake Barber’s well placed sax. The title track then follows with mesmerizing guitar from Isaiah Ross, where a very crisp version of indie-rock radiates an undeniable energy.
Further into the record, the throbbing bass from Logan Casper illuminates the firm and anthemic “Another Little Sucker,” though it’s the gritty yet melodic heartland rock of “FML” that will make anyone a fan of The Ghost Club’s raw but cohesive formula.
The back half leads with the more abrasive delivery of “Creature Of The Shadows,” where punk bouts add a hint of furiousness, in a very tuneful sort of way. “It’s Your Call,” another excellent track, then references My Chemical Romance and is a calmer moment of intimacy that’s still vibrant enough to soundtrack the dance floor. “Don’t Let Go,” the final track, embraces some New Wave and post-punk inclinations thanks to the swirling backdrop and sing-alongs that you’ll try to know the first time around, and will have memorized by the second trip
Well placed synth and dance-rock moments won’t be hard to spot here, as the Steel City quintet bring to mind legends like Bruce Springsteen, New Order, The Killers or even more current stars such as Animal Sun or Low Cut Connie. All comparisons aside, though, good luck not enjoying this record if you’re a fan of anything rock-related, and appreciate a smattering of jazz on top.
