Slingshot Dakota has stripped down their lineup and sound for their long-awaited second full-length, but in doing so has given themselves a more defined, rigid indie pop sound that showcases Carly Commando's sparking vocals and creative and diverse keyboard melodies -- sometimes pristine, sometimes fluttering. These elements were likely standouts early on in Slingshot's existence, and being pushed to the forefront just makes Their Dreams Are Dead, But Ours Is the Golden Ghost! all the more honest and enjoyable.

The album leads off with its best track, "The Golden Ghost." Commando sounds as earnest as she can be when she sings "home is where the heart is / and my heart is every highway, every city, every street corner that I have yet to see..." It's just a wonderful song, and while the rest of Their Dreams doesn't quite match up, the following 37 minutes or so are full of sunny, joyous bursts which get by merely on Commando's dual talents and Tom Patterson's reliable drumming backbeat.

Those aforementioned elements actually make for some lush sounding songs, such as the surprisingly filled "I-78." The simplicity is even striking considering much of Their Dreams' 40-minute duration is pretty interesting and enjoyable. Slingshot takes the most charming aspects of acts like Lemuria and Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer, but breaks it down into the most bare components and, as far as the latter goes, peels away much of the high-sugar content.

Their Dreams Are Dead, But Ours Is the Golden Ghost! is a solid and well-rounded effort; plus, Latterman mourners can catch Matt Canino's guest vocal efforts on two tracks.

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The Golden Ghost
Ohio!
South 1st
Wave