:: Eskimo Joe - Ghosts Of The Past

Eskimo Joe

It's been a while in coming, but Eskimo Joe have carefully set about this fifth studio album with a new purpose and their own record label. Things have changed on a personal level with wives and children part of the mix now, meaning a different outlook on songwriting and general thought processes well beyond their early years. The album is generally very good with some immediate standout numbers such as “Love Is A Drug” (no surprise it's been released as a single), “Just Don't Feel”, “When We Were Kids” and “Gave It All Away”. A couple of other tracks don't really appeal, seeming a bit staid and uninspiring, but generally the album has atmosphere and grit in accomplishing the pop-rock feel, demonstrating an older, wiser band that has looked back at its past and is transitioning towards a new phase. Frontman Kav Temperley again shows his sublime vocal stylings on several songs and he has really stepped up a notch, even from the excellent Black Fingernails Red Wine sound. The band is very purposeful and confident in their own ability, from over ten years in the business now. The indie-rock days have made way for a pretty polished rock act these days - the singing and songwriting have much commercial substance - and Eskimo Joe deserve whatever rewards come their way. Remember how close they were to calling it quits a few years ago. Now they stand high amongst Australia's musical platform.