I’ve been hurt by many many men.
Dream Girl is the debut LP by Ghost Piss, which follows a series of singles and a debut EP released in 2021. This 10-track electro-dream pop album has an indie twist and is heavily influenced by the neglect that Ghost Piss, also known as River Allen, has experienced from countless men. Allen has had enough and they do not hold back when it comes to expressing their feelings of mistrust and belittlement from their previous partners.
The album’s opening track, “Vali(date) Me,” sets their expectations, with lyrics about providing support to a partner without receiving any in return. They sing, “If I were to wait for you to tell me / I wouldn’t ever have bought my gear / I wouldn’t ever faced my fear / I wouldn’t ever have sang a word / Forcing my voice behind closed doors.” They are searching for someone who encourages and pushes them to pursue their dreams, but Allen has grown tired of waiting for that person to come along. It’s time for them to take action and do what they want. They sing, “Am I doing this right, am I giving my all? Am I the one that makes that call?” and then change the lyrics to “I’m the one that makes that call!” at the end of the track.
Problems found in relationships are addressed on the tracks, “Rude Dudes,” “See Ya!!!!!,” “He Didn’t Love Either of Us,” “Hardcore,” “It Will Hurt,” and “Placeholder.” Situations such as casual hookups, abrupt breakups, infidelity, ghosting, and the inability to form a close bond with someone who’s not interested are explored through Allen’s personal experiences and storytelling. Each track embraces a different vibe with some being high energy with fast drums, groovy bass lines, and catchy guitar riffs, and others have melodic vocals on top of hard-hitting kicks and minimal drums. It serves as a reminder that these topics are serious and affect people in different ways, but facing that fear head-on is how people grow.
The two remaining tracks, “Worry” and “Had a Lotta Fun,” offer Allen’s perspective on moving past the pain. Not seeking out love, but letting it find them, and ending a relationship on their terms because it’s not working. They, “gotta love [themselves] first baby.”
Ghost Piss creates a relatable piece of work with Dream Girl, which serves as the perfect soundtrack for what almost everyone experiences at least once in their lives while playing the treacherous game of love.
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