Band of the Week: Ghostland Observatory

[August 11 - 17]
Ghostland Observatory
Sounds Like: Electronica
Drinking Buddies: !!!, The Octopus Project, Matt and Kim
Synopsis: "An agreement between two friends to create something that not only heals their beat-driven hearts, but pleases their rock ‘n roll souls."
Makes You Want To...: Dance!; Sing!; Did I Mention Dance?!
[Myspace]




One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Ghostland Observatory.



So much has been happening in the last week! Did anyone go see Pineapple Express? Note that they name dropped Godspeed You! Black Emperor and The Shins. Then of course, there was the Olympics. Did anyone hear NBC featuring Explosions In The Sky when doing a review-report on the opening performance? I certainly did. And apparently Russia didn't read my article about peace and love and Peachcake, with all the craziness that's been happening in Georgia. So much going on in this big world, my friends. Sometimes we just need to hold our breath and forget. Not forever - just for a few hours - just for a few minutes - but, sometimes, we just need a breather.

Maybe, just maybe, I know who can help. We need one steady injection of music. Something strong - something with attitude - something that can get your feet moving like your life depended on it. Meet Ghostland Observatory. This duo rockin' and dancin' their way out of Austin, Texas, know exactly what they're doing. They have an objective: to please crowds all around with globe with their unique infusion of dance music and rock aesthetic.

I caught wind of these guys one summer ago, when they coaxed the entire crowd at the Wall of Sound Festival in Fort Worth, TX, to dance their booties off! I was not at all prepared for the intense live act these put on. It's about losing inhibitions and breakin' down to some grand music. If you can imagine an insane show all packed into a studio, thus into digital format, and thus out through your speakers, you'll understand that these boys carry the same energy in their recorded material. They are definitely a gem worthy of your listening pleasures.

Ghostland Observatory has three albums out presently, their latest, Robotique Majestique, which was released back in February (and ironically, which I just saw today in a music shop). And speaking of live shows, our dynamic duo is sporadically touring over the next several months. Though the list of shows is slim, hopefully your town is on the list. You can find their schedule, as well as an excellent selection of music, on Ghostland Observatory's Myspace. Now if you don't mind, I'll be dancing to "Rich Man." Don't wait up! Have a nice weak, fair reader!