By Nick Girolami ’17 Staff Writer

Following the release of their excellent You’re gonna miss it all in 2014, and their Perfect Cast EP in 2015 Philadelphia emo-rockers Modern Baseball have returned with the new full length album Holy Ghost on Run For Cover records. The album features a newly fuzzy sound and more frantic pace that shows the band’s clear roots in pop-punk and 1990’s indie alternative rock.

If I were to describe Holy Ghost in one word, it would be excellent. The band transcends not only their own sound, but also the stereotypes of the often looked down upon emo genre.

Because of their unique sound, it is difficult to directly compare Modern Baseball to other bands. However their music contains many stylistic elements similar to bands such as Sunny Day Real Estate, American Football, and even some more mainstream bands like Third Eye Blind. With Holy Ghost, Modern Baseball has produced a fresh sound that will appeal to any follower of rock or alternative music.

Modern Baseball has been a staple in the alternative rock scene since the release of their debut album Sports in late 2012. Since then, they have continued to impress long time fans and newcomers alike. Their transparent and honest sound gives a nostalgic and almost cathartic feeling to the listener. Their lyrics poetically reminisce on failed attempts to talk to girls, parties, fun times with friends, growing up, and in some cases, more serious topics such as depression.

These topics are still present in Holy Ghost, but seem to be analyzed and portrayed in a different way. The band delves into them more with more honesty, more emotion, and more finesse. The lyrics are unrefined, honest, and relatable. They also manage to have a more mature tone than many other bands within the emo subgenre.

The instrumentals on Holy Ghost are very satisfying. They are well produced and, while having an intentionally fuzzy sound, cleanly performed. With simple lead guitar parts and distorted  rhythm guitar, It does layer unconventional minor chords in several places,  occasionally becoming somewhat dense and bombastic. The album, however, offers a sound that is generally easy to listen to.

Midway through, the track “Hiding” offers a nice break from the more aggressive sound of the rest of the album.As the only moderately quiet song besides the opening track “Holy Ghost,” It opens with soft vocals layered with acoustic guitar arpeggios and the surprising addition of violin. At the end, the track grows into yet another loud and layered electric masterpiece. While it seems as though this could be obnoxious, it is done well: It actually offers a smooth transition back into the rest of the album.    

After a mainly acoustic, somewhat brooding intro track, which is also the title track, the album expands into a delightfully layered and exuberant rock album. The vocals, performed by both guitarists Jake Ewald and Brendan Lukens, have a signature unpolished and almost juvenile sound that the band is known for. The harmonies, while used more sparsely than in previously releases, are well done and add a more complex and layered sound.

I am impressed by Modern Baseball’s ability to produce a quality album that takes a step outside of their traditional sound. This album is a very quality, and in my opinion, necessary step forward in their career. It represents the growing up and maturing of the band as a group and as individuals. Both the lyrics and the overall sound exemplify this. I was pleasantly surprised by how the album, despite an unfamiliar sound from the band, retained the same feel and quality as previous releases.

4/5  Ghosts Stand out tracks: Wedding Singer, Everyday, Hiding