3 out of 5

Label: sixgunlover

Producer: Elliot Dicks? (engineer)

I think I’m supposed to love this because it was “classic” and out-of-print Texas stuff with a lot of other band people (mostly from the Joan of Arc ring)… and it is, actually, a lot of great tracks all collected in one spot, tracks that would cost you a bit of dosh to pick up on the original albums / singles, so it’s a super snazz collection.  Alas, having it all together sort of exposes the main weakness to G & V, though – they only really hit one vibe and stick to it.  It feels like a collabo group and not a fully fleshed out band b/c there’s a big jammy feeling to their tracks, guys getting together in a room and just sort of having fun.  Not to say that there aren’t some slower songs, or more aggressive, but nothing really hits too deep with Ghost & Vodka.  In this sense it’s also a pleasantly unique sound for an instrumental group – “happy” guitar pop, if that works, neither stretching for a big rock orgasm at any song’s end or trying to work you through some progressive seven-minute long dynamic push-and-pull, almost all of these tracks just find a pretty good hook and execute it really well.  All the guys are probably nodding along as they play and smiling at one another, and then they hit “stop,” pat each other on the back and go home.  Yayy america