Jukebox The Ghost

This Monday's band comes from Washington D.C. and is Jukebox the Ghost. They actually have a new record being released on June 12th of this year. They're just a fun group. Writing songs ranging from themes of love to science fiction (aliens and things) and nearly everything in between.

I originally discovered them after their first album Live and Let Ghosts was released in 2008. I only found out about them because I went to see Ben Folds at the Rave in Milwaukee. They were the opening band and they were incredible performers! I found myself tapping my feet, eventually turning into jumping and dancing to the music even though I didn't know the individual songs.

Seemingly just another pop punk band, Jukebox the Ghost proves to be much more than just that stereotype. They write catchy songs, with memorable lyrics and great storytelling. Songs like "Victoria" and "Hold It In", are signatures of theirs. Both are pretty straightforward songs both with catchy piano riffs and hooks and enjoyable lyrics. In "Hold It In" there are some great lines: "There's a couple with a baby and it's no secret why, neither one was able to hold it in. Hold it in." Lyrics like this always make me smile. While they may be straightforward, both songs play with tempo and rhythm. Keeping you guessing as to where the song may actually end up.

These two songs sit closer to the "poppy" edge of this band's sound, while we get songs like "My Heart's the Same," a nice slow piano song gives the album some balance from all the fun "dancy" songs on the rest of the album. This song flows seamlessly into one of my favorite songs on the album "Lighting Myself on Fire," one of the songs sitting closest to the rock/punk side of this band. I love it. I've been listening to this album all day long and am going to move onto their other album released in 2010 Everything Under The Sun later today.

Everything Under The Sun is a great album as well! The band didn't change their sound much, which plagues many bands going from their first album to a sophomore attempt. Sometimes it works for bands, but more often than not fans get mad and trash that album. Look to Taking Back Sunday as a prime example. Not necessarily of first to second albums, but when they moved to a new label many fans stopped listening to them. Primarily because they felt that TBS had "sold out." I stuck with them and they've made some of their best music in years. Thankfully Jukebox the Ghost didn't have a problem with their sophomore record.

This is a band who deserves more recognition than they are getting currently so please give them a listen! They're definitely worth your time in my opinion!

From Live and Let Ghosts
Hold It In

From Everything Under the Sun
Half Crazy

And from their album coming out on June 12th. Just released on April 9th:
Somebody

Give them a listen and brighten your day with some good piano rock!