CD Review: I Am Ghost's "Those We Leave Behind"
Mike Lopez
Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: Reviews
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LBC natives I Am Ghost's new album, "Those We Leave Behind," follows a familiar formula, distortion mixed with high guitar leads, scratchy screams mixed with pretty lyrics that make you want to sing along or cry, the basic formula that make up this genre and this album. Don't get me wrong, it's good; it's just not slapping me in the ass, or making me scream mo'. If you were to put My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday and Paramore all in a blender, switch it to crush; you would get a frothy taste of this album.
It got help from producer Paul Leavitt who has worked with bands like Senses Fail and Circa Survive. I Am Ghost recorded the album in Baltimore, Md. with the idea of making death beautiful. The Doors had the same idea more than forty years ago, but this is a re-occurring theme, so it's forgivable. The album is a healthy collection of 14 songs, so there are plenty of tunes to find something appealing. Singer Steve Juliano has great vocal range and his hooks are pretty catchy, while Timoteo Rosales III has some tightly woven guitar licks within the songs; it gives the band a necessary "oomph" over a saturated market, plus it's always nice to hear somebody exercise their chops if they've got them. The album mixed many of the songs with acoustic and electronic elements as well as female backing vocals. It is an admirable effort at being different, and gives the songs more flare.
The chorus line and break in track two, "Don't Wake Me," had gorgeous harmonies with the previously mentioned female vocals that really filled out the break. "Saddest Story Never Told" again had a powerful vocal presence with what I think was a little cello in the background giving it a sad but optimistic touch. I loved the acoustic guitar to start and end track eight, "So I Guess This Is Goodbye," well structured lyrics with extra elements out of the norm for screamo. Track 12, "Make Me Believe This is Real," is a nice slow jam with a beefy bass line that gives off a waltz-like experience. The song transitions into scratchy screams and the music gets progressively heavier but this song was begging for it, so thumbs up.
"Set Me Free" wasn't as strong as the other songs, but Juliano does a good job with his sing-along choruses, a well produced song both musically and vocally and is a good end to the album and deserves honorable mention.
The rest of the songs could have very well been throw away songs, and come across as filler tracks. Overall I Am Ghost is a very talented band, with good intentions, just lacking fresh ideas.
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