Modern Baseball // Holy Ghost

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Modern Baseball

Holy Ghost

Run For Cover Records

4/5 stars

Holy Ghost is audible proof that the emo revival is still burning bright. The Philadelphia quartet's third full-length release aimed to mimic the structure of Outkast's 2003 hit record Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. Modern Baseball's dual vocalists/guitarists Jake Ewald and Brendan Lukens split the 11-track album in two, with Ewald handling the songwriting on the first six tracks and Lukens taking on the latter five. Holy Ghost represents growth for the band as a whole. While both Ewald and Lukens grappled with separate interpersonal conflicts while writing the record, the subject matter of the songs lies well next to each other. Ewald's songs range from subjects like the stress distance puts on a relationship to a loss of longtime faith. Luken's side focuses more on his recent struggle with bipolar disorder and overcoming a substance abuse problem. Ewald and Lukens come together in solidarity, counting their losses and wanting to be better for themselves and the people they love. Clocking in at only 27 minutes long, Holy Ghost relays a dexterously melodic catharsis of the state of confusion that is being in your early 20s. – Bridget Fessler