Cool Ghouls
A Swirling Fire Burning Through The Rye
Empty Cellar Records
Street: 11.11
Cool Ghouls = The Beach Boys + Allah-Las
Based out of San Francisco, the Cool Ghouls are the epitome of good West Coast music. You can practically see “The City” and all its beautiful, eclectic absurdities by listening to the band’s latest album, A Swirling Fire Burning Through The Rye. This album holds on to the ’60s surf rock sound but with a slightly more psychedelic impact than their self-titled debut album in 2013. Cool Ghouls are mostly devoted to quick chord and riff changes and the classic background “oohs” and “ahhs” of surfer rock. A Swirling Fire Burning Through The Rye does it better and cooler. At times, taking a break from the quick-rockin’ reverb, the tempo slows with distant, drawn-out vocals, which are obvious on tracks like “What A Dream I Had,” with rolling wave of the bass, tight drums and electric guitar. –Lizz Corrigan