Jukebox the Ghost, Let Live And Let Ghosts

Photo Credit: Jukebox the Ghost

by Kathryn Durfee
04/02/2008

When I bought my ticket to the Modern Skirts show at the 40 Watt in late February, I saw on my ticket that a band called Jukebox the Ghost would be opening for the Athens-based band. I knew nothing about Jukebox the Ghost, a three-piece from Washington, D.C., and based on previous experiences with opening bands, I didn't have high hopes.

About thirty seconds into the first song, however, Jukebox the Ghost had found a new fan. Since the show, I have listened to Jukebox the Ghost's debut album Let Live and Let Ghosts about a dozen times. The bouncy beats and catchy lyrics have not only become my anecdote to Athens-Atlanta traffic but they have made Let Live and Let Ghosts my favorite album of this year so far.

Recorded in 2007 at Low Watt Studios in Raleigh, N.C., Let Live and Let Ghosts is 42 minutes of pure fun. Their songs range in subject matter from love to the apocalypse, illustrating a wide spectrum of influences from their experiences traveling around the world, literature, and pop culture.

The album hits the ground running with "Good Day," which begins with a delicate piano tune and then expands to include guitar riffs and drums. The chorus is sure to get caught in your head, but it won't annoy you. The second track, "Hold It In," is by far my favorite of the 12 tracks. This song, which features another catchy beat, showcases lead singer Ben Thornwell's ability to play with words and craft witty verses. This is also the case with "Under My Skin," the fourth track on Let Live and Let Ghosts.

"Miss Templeton's 7000th Dream" is a short intro to the following track, "Static," a fast-paced and energetic song that is, aside from a few spotlit piano pieces, held together by Jesse Kristin's drums. This track, the most outspoken on the album and performed by guitarist Tommy Siegel, ends with a pleading chant and crescendo of instrumentals. Recovering from the frenzy of "Static," the album transitions into "Victoria," a bouncy return to Ben Thornwell's vocals.

Thornwell's classical training shines in "My Heart's the Same," a delicate love song. Another two-part song, "My Heart's the Same" swells at the end, leading into "Lighting Myself on Fire," a burst of energy that still serves as both an illustration of Thornwell's talent for composition and the incredible range of his vocals.

The final three tracks on Let Live and Let Ghosts go together to form Tommy Siegel's three-part saga concerning the apocalypse. "Fire In The Sky," "Where Are All The Scientists Now" and "A Matter of Time," play out as a long and detailed story about how Siegel sees the end of the world. Heavily focused on the lyrics, the songs vary from slow and melodious to bold and drum-heavy.

After seeing Jukebox the Ghost perform live at the 40 Watt here in Athens, I was concerned that the band might not be able to recapture the energy they had on stage for the album. Oh, how wrong I was. Though obviously not as flamboyant and fun without the visuals of the band bouncing around on stage, Let Live and Let Ghosts succeeds because of the quirky lyrics and truly great songwriting. The only problem is that on CD, the gaps between the multi-part songs are no longer seamless (this is solved in iTunes, where each song flows into the next), which means that the music swells but is followed by a few seconds of silence before jumping into the next song. A small price to pay for such an enjoyable listen.

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