Published on Oct 17, 2001
For their latest CD, the Los Angeles punk influenced power-pop
band, Cockeyed Ghost, have decided to come up with somewhat of a
concept album in
Ludlow 6:18. Adam Marsland, the singer/songwriter for the
band has based his latest songs around reminiscing about adventures
of his life as a musician trying to make a living in Los Angeles
while traveling through Ludlow, California which, if you are
traveling east, is the last town before hitting nothing but
desert.
The title tune sets up the premise and is a great start to the
CD. However, Cockeyed Ghost gives a powerful punch early on with
the next song, “Ginna Ling”. This is a very touching song about
meeting a fan who comes to the shows and finding out that the fan
has killed herself. There is a danger of coming off maudlin with
such a subject, but the song rocks, and the sunny energy is in
sharp contrast to the subject matter.
And this is what makes
Ludlow 6:18 such a fascinating CD. It is filled with songs
that have sunny melodies hiding darker themes. Another plus in its
favor is the increasing diversity in Cockeyed Ghost’s sound. The
punk influence is still there, although less prominent this time
around. In its place are elements of soul (the piano ballad
“December”), folk (the closing number “Old Trails”), and even a
little jazz influence (the ballad “The Foghorn” and the uptempo
“Tears Of Joy” have a definite Steely Dan vibe).
But the song that I think is the highlight of
Ludlow 6:18 has their patented punk-pop sound. “Burning Me
Out (Of The Record Store)” has Marsland effectively chronicling his
experiences with his record label folding. The lyrics are angry and
clever. Marsland’s singing lets the listener feel the anguish of
the situation, and the band gives a great performance with a
pulsinating rhythm section consisting of bassist Robert Ramos,
drummer Kurt Medlin, and the guitarist known as Severo.
Ludlow 6:18 is Marsland’s most mature work as a songwriter.
If you listen to the lyrics, these songs are quite emotional
without going overboard. The current lineup of Cockeyed Ghost ably
handles the ecletic material presented to them. In short, this band
has fulfilled the potential they showed on previous releases.