Infectiously pop-punk, Reuthers debut record ‘Like A Ghost’ is one that warrants being blasted out, the louder the better. From the opening chords of the first track ‘Statement’, you’re immediately hit with a sense of familiarity and joy, with Vee’s ringing chords and Stover’s pounding drums enveloping you.

Standout track ‘So Predictable’ has one of the catchiest choruses on the album, with bassist JD Wright’s vocals adding a layer of affability beneath Vee’s lead. Wright adds a layer of depth to the powerful melodies that punctuate the record, both with his bass and his voice.

Though poppy and energetic, lyrically there’s a very literal sense of meaning from Reuther. They’re not occupied with preaching politics or society. They’re more concerned with expressing the personal things that make them tick. Nothing expresses this more than their second single, ‘Highways’, a song dealing with being at breaking point and having to make all important, life altering decisions. Given this is a second attempt at breaking out, it’s easy to assume ‘Highways’ is a reflection of Vee and Stover deciding to give it one more chance.

Reuther have cited The Loved Ones, The Flatliners and The Swellers as their inspiration and the track the album is named after, ‘Like A Ghost’ is a real indicator of the influence The Loved Ones have been. Incredibly clean and polished, the Detroit natives have created a defined sound that Dave Hause would be proud of.

With more hooks than a fisherman, ‘Like A Ghost’ takes you bounding down the avenues of pop-punk, hitting every major benchmark and surpassing most of them. The harmonies are seamless, the melodies are lively. It’s contagiously good fun.

ANDY JOICE

Flash forward 10 years and I was able to relive that evening. Granted, I live in a different city and I didn’t ditch my friends to go on an adventure, but the part where I saw the Loved Ones play happened. It was really something special to catch up with the band after their recent decline in activity. Keep Your Heart is still one of my favorite records and holds up very well on stage. I only wish I wasn’t old enough to know better on matters of trespassing. But, I guess since I can buy my own beer and work for a music publication, I don’t need to sneak backstage to talk to my favorite bands anymore. Ahhh memories.

-mat