Album Reviews

Chris Barrows, probably best known for his work with The Pink Lincolns, has released a new album with his other band, The Spears (with Down By Law‘s Sam Williams and others). I honestly didn’t know The Spears were still a thing. I mean, they only released one album called ‘Shove’ back in 2010. So anyone holding their breath for a new release, had probably already moved on by now. Or died.

‘Ghosts’ comes with nine songs and double that number of guest appearances from members of The Queers, Screeching Weasel, Black Flag and Adolescents. Barrows kicks things off with a rather unnecessary instrumental opener, before launching into a couple of 80ies SoCal hardcore punk jams that come with blistering solos and snotty vocals that complain about things like working shitty jobs and living in shitty places.

It’s all a bit hit or miss to be honest. ‘Alphaman’ is an absolute beast of a song, but then you also have the rather annoying, organ drone that is ‘Nametag’. As for most of the other tracks on here, it’s snotty punk rock with a rather shitty production.

I’m not sure where that leaves me to be honest. ‘Ghosts’ is not a bad album, but more than anything else it just makes me want to listen to Night Birds instead.

Track listing:

1. Instrumental
2. Kimiko
3. Born Bad
4. 55 Weeks
5. Apt. 28
6. Nametag
7. Alphaman
8. Not It
9. Gypsy Motherfucker
10. Uniform
11. Borstal (Live)