The Left Ready - ​Ghost

The Left Ready

​Ghost
self-released; 2015

3.6 out of 5

By Ted Rogen
​

The Left Ready comprised of Mike Murray (vocals/guitar), Joel Metzler (drums) and Chris Krager (bass guitar) hasn’t been wasting any time since their inception. In mid 2013 they were writing and touring and last year released their self-titled five-song EP, which we happened to review. The band is back with another five-song EP entitled Ghost. On their debut they worked with Andy Prickett and brought him back for Ghost. The results are what you would expect from a producer who works with commercial acts such as OneRepublic. 

The Left Ready makes high energy, rock songs. The songs do feel more viable to take their place in the mainstream than to reside in the underbelly of the underground. Take for instance the opener “In Like a Lion” which unequivocally sounds similar to U2 during the chorus in the way that it soars. In fact Murray sounds like Bono at points. I will say that the gritty lead guitar around the two-minute mark was a high point.

The band cross breeds synths with blues and rock on “I Am a Ghost.” This blues/rock hybrid feels like it's been taking anabolic steroids and coated with the production of a top 20 hit. A similar blues/rock vibe is established on “Will To Survive” which has a good amount attitude. “Hell in a Handbasket” goes anthemic with vocal harmonies and a memorable chorus. I loved the slide guitar and breakdown towards the end.

The closer “Out Like a Lamb” was a good song but doesn’t sound like anything else on the album. So much so that it sounds like a different band. It’s nostalgic and goes extremely grand towards the end of the song. 

Ghost is an EP that feels like the band is doing everything they can to be heard. Almost every moment is intense and the band just wants you to notice them. The band may need to step back and think about what type of music they want to play because the EP sends off mixed messages. They got this hard rock/blues thing that works with the songs in the middle but the opener and closer feel disparate. 

Don’t get me wrong there are some inspired moments on this EP. The band can play really well together and the delivery is sick. That being said this EP points to a band that is still searching for their sound.

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