First Listen: Seventh Rain - The Ghost in Me

Are you near a radio?  Go turn it on. Done? Good. Now set the dial to your local alternative rock station.  Okay. Do you hear that song playing right now?  Well, there is a very good chance the song you are listening to sounds just like something from Alberta-based pop-rockers Seventh Rain’s upcoming album, The Ghost in Me, slated for release on August 11.

The band obviously wears its Canadian rock influences on its sleeve (this vocal harmony sounds like Nickelback, that guitar riff sounds like Sum 41), but there’s also a new-rock Fallout Boy feel throughout the album, especially on songs like “Breath to React” and “The Notion.” Dropping any number of the songs from The Ghost in Me between a Third Eye Blind number and the new Hedley track, before cutting to the local traffic report, will work just fine on radio stations across Canada (and likely the United States as well).

There are certainly worse things in the world than sounding like every other alternative rock band on mainstream radio, especially for a young band from Alberta.  In fact, it was the support of Calgary’s Vibe 98.5 – who named Seventh Rain Calgary’s best unsigned band and supported four singles from their 2007 debut album, Byda – that helped launch the group to new levels of success. More recently, the band won a $10,000 rock band contest run by the Fuel 90.3, shared the stage with the likes of Live and Evanescence, and toured throughout Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

But these alternative radio-friendly rockers are about more than just a catchy riffs and emotive vocals.  Guitarist Rich MacFarlane, vocalist Ryan Williams, drummer Phil Grossi, and bassist Luke Sheppard have developed a socially conscious reputation by speaking out against bullying in schools across Alberta.  Having experienced bullying themselves, Seventh Rain approaches live performance as an opportunity to break down cliques, connect with young people, and help spread the anti-bullying message.  To that end, the band has played over 50 Alberta schools in the last two years, where they perform songs and interact with the students in a program that combines music with social engagement.

Recorded in Toronto’s Pocket Studios, the new album has a crisp, well-produced (but not over produced) sound, and its strongest moments are often in the melodic and catchy pop-punk guitar riffs, such as the riff from “One to Fall” that opens the album. Listeners will also enjoy the sing-along choruses on songs like “I Don’t Even Know You” and “Stop Pretending.”

Where the album seriously stumbles, however, is in the startlingly narrow focus of its lyrics. Every single one of The Ghost in Me’s ten tracks is a first person “I” song in which the narrator/singer expresses some aspect of a romantic relationship with “you,” presumably his (ex)girlfriend. Unfortunately, if you don’t identify with one of these two characters (“you” or “I”), the album will have virtually nothing to say to you as listener.

The Ghost in Me’s self-absorbed and vapid poetry is rather surprising given that, with its anti-bullying campaign and school talks, Seventh Rain is clearly a band that really does have something worthwhile to say.

I suppose that when listening to the radio while stuck in traffic on the way home from work, you aren’t necessarily looking for earth-shattering lyrics, just rocking guitars, steady beats and catchy vocals… something Seventh Rain can provide in spades.

Comments (1)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

kaitlyn PECK-VELENOSI

June 18, 2010

Votes: +0

• 
• 
• 

smexxiii boyz

i love you guys so mush its makes me cry just like {justin bieber} plz plz plz come to my party for a visit and preformance ill pay you i just want you to come

Write comment

Email Name		Title Comment smaller | bigger
		I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage. Write the displayed characters Add Comment