As Ex-Lion Tamer plink away at the very top of their guitar strings to create a lovely patter of harp-esque twangs on “Toxic Avenger” — btw, have you seen that movie? Along with Bad Taste, one of the best bloodsploitation films of all time — one can’t help but wonder what makes them so unique yet familiar. Go Ghost is not a vivid pop pop-up book, nor a romantic rock novel, nor a sprawling, churlish orchestra narrative à la Celine.
E-LT equate most closely to the one, the only, the fat/drunken Bukowski. Much like the underground poet/author, whose post-Fante prose helped shape the style of so many fiction writers, Ex-Lion Tamer approach their art with a directness rarely heard in the age of synth, sunny-day froot-loops, and Sufjan. Theirs is a frill-free indie-rock, sans adornments, over-elaboration, and clutter, and you’ll thank them for checking their pretensions at the door.
Even if you do crave excess, the drama inherent in Go Ghost makes for a real page-turner. Tempering their simplistic fuzz riffs with just the right amount of dissonance, Lion Tamer: Ex formulate a riveting template and stick with it through the highs and lows of each track, lending unique shades and dancing dalliances of variety when needed. The one rough spot is Assaf Tager’s vocals, which don’t live up to the sprawl of the arrangements and almost mimic, of all people, Eddie Vedder at times.
It’s a small price to pay for the rowdy rally cry reams of co-singer Zoe Polanski. In fact, it makes for a game of good cop-bad cop Glover and Gibson could never imagine, similar to the way Matthew Friedberger’s voice bides its time until his more vocally talented sis’ takes over Blueberry Boat’s reigns again. This package bundles up a bevy of straight-up drum beats with little deviation, off-the-cuff-without-being-too-bombastic vocals, two highly distinct guitar personalities trading licks and pick-scrapes, and very, very elemental bass. Go Ghost won’t make you as happy as a kid on Christmas morning, but it will serve as a nice indie season’s greeting during a slow period for rock releases.
More about: Ex-Lion Tamer
