AN AMPLE ODDS AND SODS COLLECTION
Posted August 18, 2009
By CCMmagazine,
After kicking off their career in 1993, indie innovators Starflyer 59 have pretty much released a full-length CD or EP each subsequent year. Along the way, the Jason Martin-led band of ever-changing backers has continued to evolve, evoking everything from shoegazing simplicity to psychedelic explorations to straight up indie pop. There’s a little bit of each era, plus a whole lot of randomness, on this 31-track collection that uncovers a series of demos, B-sides, covers and non-album versions of previously released songs.
Given that specific scope, Ghosts of the Past best serves faithful fans rather than new listeners, but both camps are likely to find several intriguing odds and sods throughout this generous track listing. One that immediately stands out is an unplugged cover of The Church’s ’80s staple “Under the Milky Way,” where Martin casually croons the unforgettable chorus and substitutes electric guitars for atmospheric keyboards. The synth-tipped direction also permeates Starflyer’s incarnation of “Easy,” but plugged-in guitars and eerie bass lines give it an aggressive underpinning.
“Pearl of Great Price” is remarkably hypnotic and gradually builds in intensity to wrap up in a sea of cacophonic percussion. As is generally the case in the Starflyer songbook, not all the tunes are that fleshed out, such as an acoustic version of “Mr. Martin”; while incredibly intimate in these stripped-down settings, it appears half-baked from a production perspective. Of course, that’s the random nature of this compilation and a selling point die-hards are sure to devour, even if it isn’t meant for everybody. —Andy Argyrakis
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from CCMMagazine.com. Click here to visit CCMMagazine.com today! View All Music And Book Reviews By CCMmagazine | View CCMmagazine's Profile
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