Ghosty

Grow Up or Sleep In

(Future Farmer)

Record Review by Michele Fair

As the seasons change, often we find ourselves choosing one particular album that wins the coveted title of becoming the soundtrack to our days.  Fall is one of the most prolific and profound of all seasons, and Ghosty’s Grow Up or Sleep In has undoubtedly claimed the gold medal for the title of the winning muse.  Imagine if Michael Penn and Lou Barlow were to produce an offspring, and you have lead vocalist Andrew Connor’s unwavering, beautiful voice to push you through the cool air and falling leaves.  This album exhibits an absolute mastery of the craft of good, solid songwriting in just about every aspect.

It would be coy to say that any track on Grow Up or Sleep In is any better than others, but, as with all albums, the standout tracks do just that: burn in your mind.  Of course, these tracks do more than simply stand out.  The combination of intelligent lyrics, beautiful vocals, and superb skill with tempo change and use of piano/keyboard create unforgettable melodies.  On “Rooms In The Dark,” Connor ponders the mundane everyday life in a way that many of us seem to pass by with lyrics like: “all the jobs in the world/are just crossword puzzles/keeping us busy/and distracting us,” combined with undisputable passion and feeling.  On first listen, one might believe that the track “Big Surrender” will be on constant repeat, and while it certainly deserves it, songs like “In a Big World (Little Dreams Count)” will jump up and wrestle to be at the front of the line.

Grow Up or Sleep In is a well-crafted album with flawless beauty and strength.  References to the poet Sylvia Plath, the weekends, smashing windows, and the dangers of ignoring street signs all intertwine, along with keyboarding that ranges from carnivalesque to baroque to psychedelic.  This combination clearly prompted the Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne to join in on a reprise of one of the tracks.  Ghosty have constructed an album that will serve as the accompaniment to the new season—and probably for seasons to come.