What happens when you take your unforgotten obsession with late-90s pop punk rock and mix it with the styles heard in female-led DIY punk / garage rock jams of today?
The answer is Salt Lake City’s very own Baby Ghosts.
Warning: This band has the full potential to become your new favorite band and I’m pretty sure you’ll be kicking yourself for not getting into them earlier. It’s ok. I am in the same boat.
In a perfect blend of pop punk and garage rock, Baby Ghosts have been doing their thing since 2010. At one time, the band could have been considered a local act, but those barriers have long been broken.
Baby Ghosts recently dropped Maybe Ghosts, an all new album full of poppy hooks, sneaky guitar solos that could make J. Mascis blush, and plenty of just straight up fun.
“Ghost Boyfriend” completely floored me when I heard it for the first time. I adored the garage rock sounds tucked behind the blaring pop punk goodness. I am reminded slightly of RVIVR in a way with the female / male singing style, but this jam is way more fun to rock out to.
“Tumblr” had the band taking on at least 3 decades of different punk rock styles in under three minutes. I was so wowed that I had to listen to it over and over again. Maybe the band did not intend this, but listening to this track alone was something special.
“Oil/Sunshine” was a pop punk gem with forward intentions of moving onward. “Crash” went a little dark for a moment but it did not change the way I felt about this album at all.
I loved the guitar shredding that was hidden behind the singing in “COOKIES”. Coincidentally this is also one of my favorite kinds of treats. “alien.edu” easily was one of the best tracks on the album. “Computers” was very riot grrl sounding in a good way.
“Oh, a Surprise” should have been titled “This is What Rancid Would Have Sounded Like if Tim and Lars Were Females”. That is all I have to say about that.
I had a hard time not thinking of Juliana Hatfield and Kim Gordon while listening to Kar and Kat sing throughout this album. I hope to hell that was the idea.
I’m glad Baby Ghosts was suggested to me by a swell guy (Thanks Chris). I would hate to have missed out on this band even longer than I already have. These talented SLC punks deserve to be heard by all.
Truth be told, I can not keep up with all these bands today. Perhaps this music lover is just too preoccupied with fighting off being an adult to take notice to every single act out there throwing down good music.
If you do find yourself digging this release as much as I did, don’t be shy and snag a copy of the LP. Lost Cat Records, Drunken Sailor Records, Dirt Cult Records, Hip Kid Records, and Waterslide Records all have assisted with releasing the album. I doubt it will be a challenge to find but I know the 1st pressing will be gone sooner than later…