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Ghastly City Sleep

Ghastly City Sleep (2007)
Robotic Empire

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: brendanpwns
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on January 18th 2008

Q: What do you get when members of City of Caterpillar and iAPESHIT! set aside their hardcore roots and start to play post-rock?

A: An amazingly average band known as Ghastly City Sleep.

Ghastly’s self-titled debut album, in true post-rock fashion, contains only four songs, yet the album still clocks in at just under half an hour. Musically, they seem to have a large Sigur Rós influence, with soft vocals and great attention to how a single instrument can change the feeling for a song. This album shows that each member of the band is truly committed to producing the sound that they want, which is seen in that each member seems completely willing to remain in complete silence for minutes of a song before playing a relatively simple part. There is never a moment on this album where it feels like a single member is taking the lead or trying to show off.

However, this album does not come close to breaking new ground in the genre. I doubt Ghastly was trying to redefine post-rock, but the album just feels like it is a cookie cutter album that anyone with enough effects pedals could have written. There is also no portion of this debut album that is really all that catchy, so there is no part that really stays with you after you have listened to the record.

All in all, Ghastly City Sleep’s self-titled record is an okay record which has high potential to receive compliments like, “This record is so good to fall asleep too!” and “I listen to this all the time while I am reading!”

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brendanpwns (January 20, 2008)

I have been anticipating this album since I first heard "Ice Creaks" on their myspace. I have driven three hours to see this band live. I will most likely get their next release because I think that on this album they were getting a feel for what the style they want to play, and that their next songs are going to be more innovative.

I really hope it does not seem like I do not like this band. I still listen to this record when I want music that stirs no strong emotions either way. But for post-rock, this is average.

And the staff reviewer Dan Perrone gave this a lower score than I did, so I think it is weird to imply that staff reviewers would realize that this album is an 8 or 9.

Inspection12e (January 20, 2008)

Also good call on that band elephantdwarf.

Inspection12e (January 20, 2008)

Someone was obviously shell shocked because this didn't sound like what he thought it would. I really like this album.

paris_in_flames (January 19, 2008)

this cd is good. Ice Creaks is very good.

elephantdwarf (January 19, 2008)

no problem! i'm all for letting people know about good bands. glad to hear you enjoyed them.

DFelon204409 (January 19, 2008)

This review is what happens when good albums get in the hands of non-staff reviewers.

inagreendase (January 18, 2008)

Agreed, the Verse En Coma stuff is pretty cool, good plug elephant.

xote (January 18, 2008)

hey elephant thanks for the heads up on the band. They are really fucking awesome.

elephantdwarf (January 18, 2008)

seriously... i neeeeeed it. i keep listening to those two songs on their myspace over and over and over and over.

brendanpwns (January 18, 2008)

Verse En Coma is great. Their 10" is taking so frustratingly long to release.

elephantdwarf (January 18, 2008)

for some reason it didn't post the link or anything i wrote afterwards... http://www.myspace.com/verseencoma check them out. listen to "In a Factory". it gives me goosebumps.

elephantdwarf (January 18, 2008)

my favorite band that has dudes from pg. 99 involved in it right now is Verse En Coma. SHITS SO FUCKING GOOD.

theyounginfluential (January 18, 2008)

not terrific, but it deserves a better score than that, i think.

sumwon (January 18, 2008)

Seriously, what's up with the _____ City ______ template? Is there something I'm missing or are these bands just profoundly uncreative?

Score is for the name.

danperrone (January 18, 2008)

yeah...this was completely underwhelming. i'm a big post-rock fan, but this doesn't cut it.

xote (January 18, 2008)

I like this record. But i'm also a fan boy for these dudes. They all are playing post rock now. There's a new pg.99 band called Tideland (s) im not sure if its with the 's' or not. They pretty good. Versoma was awesome. High Speed Challenger is straight up rock. I don't why i'm listing all that. This album isn't great but worth a little more than whats set here. If you like post rock at all you'll find this record enjoyable althought it wont be your next favorite.