Ghostly Southern Shake, Raucous Rattle & Roll
Ranch Ghost wants to provide you with the most fun you’ll have all week. This jangly Nashville five-some consists of Andy Ferro (guitar, vocals), Joshua Meadors (guitar, vocals), Mitch Jones (engineer, producer and keys), Tanner Lunn (drums) and Matthew Sharer (bass), is inspired by literal ranch ghosts and has premiered their debut album, Lookin‘ via Rough Beast Records. Self described as ‘jangle cow punk’, Ranch Ghost combines retro surf rock and ‘60s twang. Instead of steeping their sound with self indulgent psyche jam outs or a Texan barn beat down, Ranch Ghost weaves a ghostly, gritty Southern style in so subtly it takes a moment to really sink in – once it does it’s truly infectious.
Starting off fast and fun with “Black Caboose,” this surfed out song is easygoing and indicative of the entire debut, while “Bleu” rings out like a White Fence track until the semi-clear and unassuming vocal delivery surpasses Tim Presley’s distorted warble. “Nahla” comes in as the most psyche-tinged track so far with waltzy-percussion, deeply distorted vocals and careening, unfocused guitar. Vocal delivery with Ranch Ghost has gone an Elvis-infused rockabilly route dappled with Jesse Hughes style inflection – all howling croon and wavering, jilted chords.
“Ragged Mile” kicks off creepily before diving into a charming classic rock and roll ditty complete with an easy beat and hand claps, as though The Black Lips mated with The Crickets over tepid whiskey in a dark corner. “Turfin'” is seething with more surf rock sizzle while “Gross Eyes” condemns the creeps who lust after the beauty of youth lasciviously.
All in all, Lookin‘ is a ten-track debut that is jam packed with the perfect dusty punch, rough and tumble rock and roll and zero pretension, different enough to be striking but rooted in enough inspiration to be a confident homage. It’s fun, it doesn’t take itself too seriously and it’s better than the beer in your hand – at the very least Lookin‘ is refreshing enough for a second and third sitting.
