Every now and then, a band comes along that goes beyond the overused, cookie-cutter-fit-in-the-niche style that so many other artists latch on to and completely upgrades a genre that has become stale. When this happens, I get a sense of happiness and relief in knowing that, yes, musicians these days are still working hard to advance music beyond the established sound and discover how much more can it be. With the newest installment from Ghoti Hook, the band has done just that.
In fact, Ghoti Hook has always been a band that likes to show us they do things differently than everyone else (if
Sumo Surprise and
Banana Man, their first and second albums, aren't proof enough, go back and listen to them again). And
Two Years to Never, Ghoti Hook's newest release, is no different, in that it's equally creative. But with respect to how the band has presented itself in the past, the guys are definitely showing us a much different side to Ghoti Hook.
The overall mood on
Two Years to Never is something we've tasted from at least a few songs off the band's previous albums, and also via the cover tunes on
Song's We Didn't Write. But even for the hardcore Ghoti fan, the new sound might still come as a bit of a surprise. The serious attitude behind songs like "VS," "Next to Me," and "Means to an End" is not what we expect from the guys who used to sing about sumo wrestlers and a banana man. It's harder, stronger, and much more mature-in short, it's a "grown-up" Ghoti Hook.
Diving into this side of Ghoti Hook is a change that most of us have secretly desired since we first heard "Never" or "Scared am I" off their first album. But
Two Years to Never is a much more intimate look at the adult side of the band, covering topics such as change and loss, inner struggle, conviction, faith, and family.
Also, with this new, more mature approach to the message comes a new, more mature approach to the music. The addition of a piano, mellotron, and organ mixed well in the Ghoti Hook sound, as does the inclusion of female background singers on a couple of the songs. (The melody from these girls really added a fullness and intensity to the sound, incorporating brilliantly with the music).
The amazing sound of
Two Years to Never is enhanced by its producer Sean O'Dwyer, who has engineered such acts as Pink Floyd, Blink-182, and MxPx. This added experience in the production and recording is clear from song one.
Two Years to Never is tighter, cleaner, and more polished than any of the band's past albums.
So if I had to sum up
Two Years to Never, I'd say it's an 80's-like, punk-rock/metal monster ballad of epic proportions, packaged up and redesigned for modern times. The entire sound teeters between 80's metal, old school punk, and hardcore--all within the boundaries of one song. Your mind may launch into overdrive trying to figure out what genre to define this music as, but then you'll quickly give up and just say, "Who cares? I love it!"
One thing for sure: no matter how you classify this new Ghoti sound, it's evident that it fits the band like a pair of perfectly tailored pants. Singer Joel Bell can lay out those anthem-like punk/rock styled ballads like no other. His voice is made for it (it's sorta like hearing Elvis Costello go glam rock). And with the entire band geared to achieve that sound, the end result is a refreshing, "next level" achievement in pop/punk-rock, and something all their own.
The BREAKDOWN:
The Good Side of the Album:
"One Step Away" - Classic and catchy...my favorite.
"Lullaby" - A powerful and melodic rock/punk anthem
"Mach 3" - Take the stylistic overtones of many genres--Ramones-like punk, glam rock, and guitar grinding/screeching rock' in roll--mix it up for the millennium, and you've got one hard-to-forget song.
"It's All Right" - Intense and fun...'nuff said.
Excellent production and recording
Background vocals by April Lassiter on "Next to Me" and Joy Rushing on "Means to an End"--beautiful touch!
The Hidden Treat
The Bad Side of the Album:
Thinking that this is another typical Ghoti Hook display of punk rock craziness and good plain fun...and finding its not. This isn't really a bad thing, but I do miss songs like "Super Sumo," "Knock Knock," and "Cowboy." But that's the only negative point about this album -- it's really that good.
Buy Ghoti Hook Albums
Two Years To Never
Songs We Didn't Write
Banana Man
Sumo Surprise
Side note:
I also found out, and it is confirmed by the band, that Christian Ergueta is no longer a member of Ghoti Hook. He left the band in June to move on to other ambitions. They all still keep in touch. Christian will be missed and his presence on stage will especially be missed, as he was a huge amount of the band's energy.
