"Melodies For Lovers" marks the debut record for Chicago band Van Ghost. Van Ghost is the brainchild of concert promoter/band manager Michael Berg, who was inspired to write and record his own tunes after working with many other diverse artists in the business. His connections allowed him to assemble a group of exceptional musicians to contribute to the Van Ghost project, and their chops can't be knocked.
A mix of alt-country and Southern rock, there is plenty on this offering to satisfy most readers of BMF. "Melodies For Lovers" is richly textured, generally bright, and organic through and through. But personally, I felt the hooks could be stronger and too many songs sound too similar. Also, the vocals sound like a hybrid of Bob Mould and John Wesley Harding; they work better on some songs than others. My picks include the sweeping "Summer Promise", the skillfully catchy "Do It For You" (my favorite), the bouncy "Through The Years", and slow burner, "Coliseum". Recommended if you like The Derek Trucks Band, Pat McGee, or Black Crowes.
iPOD-worthy: 2, 3, 8, 14
Van Ghost on MySpace. Official site.
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