Love Died Laughing - Most of You Are Not Ghosts

Love Died Laughing

Most of You Are Not Ghosts
self-released; 2015

3.7 out of 5

By Andrew Westberry

Hard-hitting from beginning to end, Most of You Are Not Ghosts is a fresh mix of grunge, blues, and rock, a product three years in the making. Love Died Laughing might seem like a typical rock band upon first listen, but there are subtle original elementshidden within the screeching guitars and pounding drums that save them from becoming lost in the ever-expansive genre of modern rock.

The album begins with “Gauze” and “Day by Day,” tracks that continually shift between double time and half time. In these songs and throughout the album, Tom Beatty, Jim Geier and Daniel Beatty all sing in three-part harmony, providing a melodious feel to an otherwise musically harsh environment. Also, the bass and lead guitar riffs often play in unison with each other, giving a structured, unified sound to the tunes.

Slowing the pace down a bit, “Me and My Friends” slowly builds momentum around a catchy chord progression and repeated lyrics. The vocals in this track slowly undergo a transformation from sultry and reserved to rough and belligerent, altering the tone of the song as a whole. One of the longer songs on the album, “Me and My Friends” is definitely a highlight; showcasing the wide scale of emotions Love Died Laughing is capable of exhibiting.

The remainder of the songs experiment with different stylistic motifs. For instance, “Sister Cider” infuses folk influences, making use of mandolins and country-flavored lyrics. Then, “Benefactor” features slap bass and distorted guitars racing at breakneck speed, making for a chaotic, aggressive anthem. The only downside of the album is that towards the end (the last three tracks or so), the songs seem to run together and feel somewhat identical in style. By the last six-minute track, listeners are muddling through, just wanting the album to be over.

Amidst pounding drums, screaming guitars and raspy voices, Love Died Laughing sprinkles poetic lines like “retrace my steps I think I should,” a subject-verb inversion that gives a normal statement a spark of life. It is this softer, more aesthetic facet of their songwriting throughout the album that yields an interesting experience to audiences looking for more than just another rock band.

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