The Ghost Is Dancing — Battles On

The Ghost Is Dancing's latest effort is aptly named. Toronto's happiest pop band faced tremendous adversity in recording this album amidst lineup changes (including the departure of singer/guitarist/lyricist Jim DeLuca), being broke and dipping into debt, working crappy jobs, going through three managers and surviving two near-death experiences. But The Ghost Is Dancing Battles On.

There's an urgency in the songwriting on their sophomore full-length, from the driving opening notes of the excellent "Dream Of A Failed Architect" to the pulsing beat of closer "Without Friends," with its final proclamation, "Without friends/I'd die."

Lesley Davies' backing vocals beautifully compliment singer/guitarist Jamie Matechuck on the rollicking title track and "Louis Riel." Her delicate tone shines as she takes the lead on "Old Children," with the telling lyric "Don't give up on the fight/Don't give up on your dreams."

The energy starts to wane halfway through the follow-up to 2007's The Darkest Spark. While "Strange Times," which builds a sonic landscape somewhat in the vein of Sigur Ros, is a welcomed change of pace, the ups and downs of the epic eight-and-a-half-minute "Flashing Pictures" seem unnecessary. But the quintet redeem themselves and go out with a bang on "Without Friends."

It's refreshing to see a band with such determination. Though they might be bruised and battered, The Ghost Is Dancing stand victorious in their fight.

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