_{By Andy McFerren}

What is a review by me without referencing music that you’ve most likely never heard of? Though not my most obscure references, join me on this journey into the past (exploring old music that is at best a footnote in your musical history) as I compare it to Ghost Radio’s debut EP, Midwest at Best.

Ghost Radio is the solo project of Jamie Grant, produced by Porter Chapman (Bad Heather). Midwest at Best is the band’s debut, including five songs with a wide variation of alternative rock sounds, at times borrowing from indie rock and pop, emo, and hard rock (bordering nu metal). 

To give you an idea, all of the songs on this EP fall somewhere on the scale between Kelly Clarkson’s smash hit “Since U Been Gone” and A Day To Remember’s cover of “Since U Been Gone,” at times reminiscent of power pop of the 2000s and at others reminiscent of emo and hard rock. 

There are two songs on the EP that stick out immediately. The first is “Hollywood” which reminds me of an obscure British alternative band called the Servant, fronted by Dan Black, who is most well known for the remix of his song “Symphonies” with Kid Cudi. Specifically, “Hollywood” reminds me of the Servant’s song “Liquefy.” There’s a gangly fluidity to “Hollywood” that makes you feel you’re moving in slow-mo in front of a late 90s, early 2000s green screen. It’s a catchy little jaunt that will surely get stuck in your head after a single listen. 

While a clear outlier on the EP, the second song that sticks out to me is “What’s It for?” It’s hard rock. It’s what is now being labeled as the new generation of dad rock, with bands like Three Days Grace or Breaking Benjamin. “What’s It for?” is a lot less melodramatic and takes what these hard rock bands do and leaves behind why some people think they’re cringe.

My favorite thing about the song is the sharpness of the vocals on the chorus. The way Grant says “liar” slices through you like you’re playing Fruit Ninja on your brother’s iPad on one of those Texas summer days that is so hot you have no choice but to seek refuge in air conditioning. 

Other highlights include: 

“Company,” an indie pop jam whose opening guitar lick reminds of “Here Comes the Sun” if it was arranged by Boy Pablo and played in a coming of age indie film. 

“Idle tree,” which sounds like if Brandon Flowers sang for Anberlin. 

Be sure to follow Ghost Radio on Instagram and check out “What’s It for?” below.