With the release of Hungry Ghosts on Oct. 17, OK Go continues to impress their fans with their change in style and use of electronic sounds.
OK Go is an alternative rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois and is now based in Los Angeles, California. OK Go broke into the alt-rock scene with the release of their first studio album, OK Go. They are widely known for their elaborate music videos, especially the choreographed treadmill video to their hit song “Here It Goes Again”.
Hungry Ghosts is OK Go’s fourth studio album and is considered to be much different from their previous albums. With the exception of the album’s lead single, “The Writing’s on the Wall”, Hungry Ghosts is produced by Dave Fridmann. The album was released on OK Go’s record label, Paracadute, instead of OK Go’s previous record label, Capitol Records.
Like their previous three records, Hungry Ghosts is considered to be very stylistically diverse. Hungry Ghosts is different from the previous albums because of its Prince-esque, beat-based, synth heavy, psychedelic pop sound. OK Go’s usage of heavy synths, guitarist Andy Ross’ glitchy guitar solos, and the morphage of, lead singer, Damian Kulash’s voice, gives the album a whole new electronic feel.
The opening song off of Hungry Ghosts, “Upside Down & Inside Out”, successfully reintroduces the band’s new sound with its upbeat, electronic sound filled tone. Personally, “Upside Down & Inside Out” is one of my favorite songs off the album, next to “Turn up the Radio”. “Turn up the Radio” successfully uses a variety of cool synth beats and electronic sounds.
Unlike some other electronic based alt-rock albums, Hungry Ghosts has a sound throughout the entirety of the album that binds all the songs together. Not once during my listens did I have the urge to skip a song because it seemed out of place in the album.
The key to a successful album is to have a good opening song, middle songs that keep the listener listening, and a good closing song. OK Go achieves this by, after opening with “Upside Down & Inside Out”, pulling the listener through a variety of captivating and unique songs and ending with “Lullaby”. Compared to the other songs on the record, “Lullaby” is more relaxed, slow, and calm, but that does not take away from its appeal. “Lullaby” is an acoustic guitar based song and though it is not the most memorable track, it certainly ends the album on a good note.
OK Go’s unique sound in Hungry Ghosts is appealing to both alt-rock and electronic music listeners. I highly suggest you listen to Hungry Ghosts whether you like that genre of music or not because it’s a great album and its upbeat sound will definitely bring your mood up.
