Music: Tokyo Rosenthal: Ghosts

Our Take

Tokyo Rosenthal is a country/Americana band that has been making their way up the independent music ranks for a few years now. With their newest effort Ghosts, the group is continuing the styles showcased on their earlier material but has also upped some of the rock influences. The resulting album has quite a bit of variety and will definitely hook listeners who enjoy these genres, and it could be the effort that makes these guys much bigger than before.

Tokyo Rosenthal is not just the name of the band, but it is also the stage name that the group’s singer had adopted as the group began as his solo project. Throughout the course of Ghosts this is still evident, as there are plenty of songs where he scales things back and offers acoustically oriented Americana that places the emphasis on catchy guitar work and vocal arrangements. However, these days Tokyo Rosenthal is also a band that has a full lineup and they use that to their advantage on Ghosts as there are plenty of tracks with a very full sound. These tracks also showcase a wide variety of genre influences, ranging from country and rock ‘n roll to blues and folk. It is clear that these guys are really trying to branch out while still creating a lot of noteworthy hooks that will keep listeners coming back, and they have certainly succeeded as this effort has plenty of memorable moments.

The vocals on Ghosts have that familiar country/folk vibe to them, meaning that they are melodic but still have a bit of grittiness. Rosenthal has a great voice and although he stays at around the same range for the entirety of the album this doesn’t end up being an issue as his singing is very likable and is sure to attract quite a few people to the band’s music. Admittedly there are a few times where the lyrical content feels a little strange (mainly in the word choice, not necessarily in theme) but this never derails the experience and for the most part the material feels genuine and relatable. There does still seem room for growth, but as of right now listeners will still enjoy what they hear.

While Tokyo Rosenthal has already achieved a good deal of exposure in the independent music world, it seems likely that Ghosts will take them to a whole other level and they should begin to really gain a following. I would like to see the group continue to experiment with some of the blending of genres showcased here as it seems as though there is still plenty of room for them to expand, but they certainly have a solid base in place. If you enjoy Americana/country with just the right touch of rock and folk to it, give this disc a spin.

http://www.tokyorosenthal.com

Chris Dahlberg
February 10, 2010