Modern Baseball “Holy Ghost” Review
It’ll Take Time, That’s Fact. Modern Baseball Is Still The Reason For The Season.
The first song I ever heard from Modern Baseball was “@chl03k”, and to be totally honest, it didn’t really sit well with me. But after the 4th time listening to “And I couldn’t give a fuck, whether you give a fuck or not”, the cringe in my face left me, and it was replaced with a common understanding. I knew exactly what this kid was going through. I cringed because it reminded me of myself. My love for MoBo began.
Last fall, they released an EP titled “The Perfect Cast”. And we got to see a darker, more serious side of the giddy kids we had become so enamored by. Brendan Lukens became very open about his struggles with depression and anxiety taking over his life, and that he was seeking help and treatment to help get through it. And after watching the bands documentary Tripping In The Dark, you got a better look into what the Ewald and Lukens have been dealing with in their lives recently, and how that has shaped how their latest release “Holy Ghost”.
As you can tell, I love the fuck outta this band. I respect the fuck outta this band. And though I’ve got a lot of positive things to say about this record, I am not gonna shy away from my critiques on it. Because I don’t play no games like that. Ya dig? Let’s get into this.
Holy Ghost
This is a great track to start this album off with. It sounds like Jake and his guitar playing in a large, open room. A very live sound. When put into the context that this song is about the passing of his grandfather, it really prefaces that this album will be a somber and reflective listen. “My third wish, has always been three more.”
Wedding Singer
The transition into this song is a lot of fun. But this song as a whole is a bit of let down for me. I will say that usually the songs I don’t like on my first listen throughs on an album, will become my favorite tracks in about two months. But for now, I find this song to be a bit lackluster and repetitive. The lyrics are strong, and hold a lot of meaning. But personally, I feel the composition holds them back a lot.
Note To Self
This is quickly becoming my favorite song on this record. That slow pace coupled with the twangy guitar in the beginning set a strong foundation. The hopelessness in his voice when he says “What’s the point of staying awake?” I feel that Sean Huber really helps drive this song. And his stylistic choices on the bridge really helps build it to this fucking huge, soaring scream from Jake. Wonderfully composed. Wonderfully performed.
Mass
My favorite thing about this song is that it’s short. That’s not an insult. I appreciate when songwriters get to the point, and get out. This is a love song. It’s a song about missin that special someone ya know? We can all feel that. He also mentions Austin. So like, shouts out to us.
Everyday
This song didn’t really stand out super hard to me when it was first released. But it truly compliments this album. It’s dark, and brooding. It holds a lot of anger inside of it. The outro is so haunting. “Every day is all about doing things you don’t want to do. But you’re reward is, you get to wake up.”
Hiding
I love this song a lot. I feel like most people will want to pass over it whenever they listen to this album, but please don’t. Appreciate this song. It has the absolute best build on the whole album. That first snare build is jarring, and then it drops you right back down to the quiet guitar, but paired with the electronic drums hidden in the background. *sigh* Bellisimo.
Coding Things To Lukens
This is the beginning of Brendan’s half of the album. The vocals start with Jake, and it builds to this thrashing and jumpy progression. And when Brendan’s vocals come in they’re desperate and frantic. He sounds invigorated. And his phrasing on this song is just so refreshing. It stays jumping throughout the lyrics about denial and anger, all the way to its abrupt ending. I hear a lotta Third Eye Blind in this song, which I think is dope as fuck.
Breathing In Stereo
The first half of this track doesn’t really do a lot for me. It’s driving and energetic, but I got lost in it. But the second half of it is just lovely. The chord progression slays. And I hear a lot of Killers inspiration in his melody line. Overall a really good song.
Apple Cider I Don’t Mind
This is a single baby. This is a banger. I love this fucking song. A sad song about losing someone you care about, a failing relationship. The desperation in the repeating of “You say that this is forever? Tell me this is forever” is just so gut wrenchingly beautiful. It’s just a great song from start to finish.
What If…
It’s a trend on this album currently, that I don’t really like the first half of a song, but the latter half kills it. And that’s how I feel about this song. The jumpy chorus is wonderful. But I find the first half to be very frantic and jolting. Which, though it’s jarring to me, is an insight to the panic that Brendan is portraying in this song.
Just Another Face
NOW THIS IS A CLOSER BABYYYYY. This song is a message. A call for help. A song in solidarity with it’s audience. Mental Health is important. It’s a song we can all relate to. The chorus is just built for a crowd of people screaming it back to him. I think it’s a lovely way to send this album off. It ends on a very hopeful note.
This album rocks from start to finish. I can’t decide whether the first half or the second is better. And I don’t think anyone should try to. These are two separate chapters of people's lives. And they deserved to be listened to and appreciated for what they are. We are witnessing a band grow up personally and musically. And I’m really happy that I get to be along for this ride.
I give this album an 8/10.
It’ll be a 9 in like 2 months tho.
-Alex Villarreal