Could Not Have Done This Without You, An Album By Ghost Writer, A Review

 

Could Not Have Done This Without You

Ghost Writer

So a little background origin story. Ghost Writer aka Phillip J. Mellen and I are old college buddies from the 90's. He's had a hand in so many different projects over the years. His poetry has always been a source of inspiration for me. I first met Phillip in my second semester at a local community college where we were both Art Majors. We shared several classes including a very avante garde sculpture class with a very avante garde (aka pain in the ass) professor. Tasked with creating an installation with few limitations or boundaries, Phillip came up with this amazing piece of art that included a briefcase and a molotov cocktail. The molotov cocktail may have ruffled some feathers.

Phillip J. Mellen aka Ghost Writer and Collaborators

Post college, Phillip and I have reconnected several times. First both being participants in a small local gallery show and then a few years later as a guest on his podcast, Ahtcast. Phillip has never shied away from talking about mental illness in his poetry, art collages and music. Much of his subject matter deals with the beauty and sadness of close relationships. Phillip's work reflects that sensitivity, empathy and intimacy. "Could Not Have Done This Without You" is a collaboration of Phillip's writings and the many friendships he's developed in his local scene. 

The graphics on the album's packaging were created by Phillip and many of the lyrics/poetry are straight from Phillip's own writings. Phillip has enlisted many of his friends from the local Southeastern Massachusetts music scene to interpret his work in fantastic ways. This is not a metal album. This is art.

Album Cover by PJM

1. From The Top - Vocals By Kevin Grant (Wire Lines, Gaskill, The Hidden), Yelling/Music by Dug McCormack, Lyrics By Phillip J. Mellen

Grant's delivery reminds me of a warning message sent over radio air waves during the intro to a dystopian movie. I mentioned to Phillip that this album's vibe reminds me in a way of Bowie's "Outside" Album which is my favorite in his catalogue. This track is a perfect example of setting the table for what's to come.

2. Contact - Music by Ethan Weiss with an assist by Mark Arruda, Lyrics by Phillip J. Mellen

This is a track that's got a Meat Beat Manifesto vibe. Dream like with a great beat throughout. Phillip's echoey delivery sends your brain through space. 

3. Sundress - Vocals by Dena Haden, Samples and Lyrics by Phillip J Mellen

This is a departure into a very quaint and beautiful short poem. The samples of a spring day really compliment the lyrics.

4. Palpitations - Music and vocals by Mark Arruda, Lyrics by Phillip J. Mellen

Palpitations is a radio ready pop song that is both catchy and replayable. 

5. Pace Yourself - Music by Kat Knutsen, Vocals and lyrics by Phillip J. Mellen

Fine piece of piano work over an intimate glimpse into Phillip's thoughts recorded over a phone message. It really invites the listener into a personal space.

6. Agreed On A Weed - Music by Chris Evil, Vocals and lyrics by Phillip J. Mellen

80's Synth pop by the enigmatic Chris Evil over a daydreamy poem about the connection between a weed and a relationship.

7. Wait For Me - Music by Kevin Fernandes and Ryan Coffey, Vocals by Sarah Jane Mulvey and Phillip J. Mellen

About the Album

Very beautiful and dreamlike instrumentals over Phillip and Sarah's dreamlike delivery of poetry. The back and forth is both intimate and relateable.

8. It Was A Ghost - Music by Nick LeBlanc, Vocals and Lyrics by Phillip J. Mellen

This is yet another great collaboration between the direct delivery of vocals/poetry and bright guitar riffs. A soundscape that is very expansive.

9. Cigarette Break - Vocals and lyrics by Phillip J. Mellen

A brief look into a poignant memory of a relationship. 

10. Voicemail from Kevin - Vocals by Kevin Fernandes

A great reminder to check in with your friends. I miss my old phone recording message machine.

11. He Was a Good Man - Music and vocals by Keith Borges, Lyrics by Phillip J. Mellen

A beautiful acoustic piece. The lyrics are a like the narration in one's mind on a sunny mid afternoon.

12. Ghost Pilot - Vocals by Shelley Cardoos, Kristin Dupre, Mark Arruda, and Phillip J. Mellen, Music by Mark Arruda, Lyrics by Phillip J. Mellen

I really enjoy the vibe of this tune. A great closer full of modern folk rock meets shoe gaze playing and a beautiful chorus of vocals. The musicianship is top notch and uplifting. Great way to close this chapter.

I'm a biased listener. I've known Phillip for a good portion of my life. Hearing his voice on this album is a like a time machine taking me back to some of my favorite periods in life. This album is a beautiful piece of work that will translate to many people these days. While this blog is about "all things heavy", sometimes we need a moment to step outside of this space. The beauty of sunlight through a bedroom window, a look back at the "perfect" moments of a past relationship that transcends time and just engaging in human moments like reviewing an old voice mail from a friend are sometimes the things we need to break up a heavy day. So while you're ripping through your catalogue of old slayer classics and you find yourself in need of a change of pace for a moment, give this piece of art a listen. It's on bandcamp. You have no excuse. Thanks Phillip for creating this. 

If you enjoyed this album and would like to know more, click the links below.

Music | Could Not Have Done This Without You

Phillip J. Mellen on Facebook

Ahtcast Podcast / Website

Phillip's Website

New Year, New Music!!!! Gaskill return to drop two big albums, one original and one covers album.

New England's very own GASKILL have returned to drop two atomic bombs on the new year. Kevin Grant and company were very busy in the studio last year. They not only recorded their first new album in over a decade, THE END OF THE WORLD, but also an album dedicated to one of the bands that has influenced them the most over the years, Black Flag. "Our War" (a track by track tribute) cleverly features as it's album's artwork, the New Bedford whaleman statue in homage to where the band came from and to Black Flag's orginal artwork on "MY WAR". Gaskill are completely possessed on both albums and make me truly excited for 2016. Gaskill were one of the first underground bands I started following in my college years. Grant is the ultimate frontman and if you haven't witnessed him in the wild, make sure you do in the new year. These are on heavy rotation!

Thy Will Be Done, Gaskill, Oxblood Forge

A big shout out to Kevin Grant, lead vocalist of Gaskill who's contributed immensely to this site. He and Gaskill will be playing June 26th on a bill with Providence's THY WILL BE DONE. If you're in the area, make sure to hit up the show and bring a friend.

"ME"TAL 101 Presents Blackhouse's Kevin Grant

Class is in session. Come on in. This is "ME"TAL 101...kickassery is afoot

Subject: Kevin Grant

Current:  BLACKHOUSE

Address: http://blackhousetechnologies.bandcamp.com/

Position: Lead Vocalist

Alumni: Iron Oak, Judo Heirs, The Hidden, Gaskill, The Brain Dead Geniuses

HMT: First off, when did you start listening to heavy and aggressive music? Who inspired you the most to start singing?

GASKILL

Kevin Grant: I began listening to serious, heavy music when I was about 11 years old. I started Middle school during that year, and it was a tough school in a tough town, and I fell in with the skateboarders. Those were the toughest dudes around, real raw. I was an out of touch science nerd, but I was funny, and I knew I needed to make tough friends if I was gonna get by. And if you were a skateboarder at any age you hung with skateboarders of all ages, so it was like instant protection. I then learned all of my music through skateboarding, and all of these underground connections. It was all the same to us, like, Public Enemy was the same genre to me as The Smiths, or Slayer. You were either on the grid or off the grid, that's all. I learned all of my music through those dudes, but also through Thrasher magazine and skate videos. My start-out bands were the Dead Kennedy's, The Ramones and the Sex Pistols. I was extremely blessed as a youth to be surrounded by these things. I started my first band around that time, The Brain Dead Geniuses. We had a Muppet Babies drum kit and just made one-off cassette recordings.

I started singing probably around 2 years old. My Dad would take me to the bars in Fall River and I would sing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" on the bar stools for all of his buddies. This was at The Corky Row Club, Billy's Cafe and the Columbus Cafe, from about 1977 to 1979.

HMT: You are an incredible vocalist and performer. What's the last thing you think of before you belt out the first note of the night.

KG: Thanks. I get terribly pumped before I play. I live for this sort of thing and I get sick thinking about it. I usually don't remember the show afterwards. I go away somewhere and just zone out. But beforehand I worry more than you would imagine. The idea of letting people down or destroying my rep horrifies me. I want to hang it up when I can't do this anymore. I never want to be an embarrassment. So as long as i can continue to kill it I know I have a right and a duty to be up there.

Kevin Grant in the zone.

HMT: As far as Heavy Metal goes, can you relate to any of the new bands out there today.

KG: No, I wouldn't even know who they are. I got into heavy music because I couldn't play by the rules very well, so I've never really been in a punk band, a metal band, a hardcore band, and I can't speak with authority on any of those styles of music. I won't toe those party lines, but I toe the human line. Run out and listen to everything, love life. I mostly listen to dub reggae.

HTM: What did you learn the most from working with Steve Albini on your previous recordings?

KG: He's a very nice man. We payed by the day, but he worked 17 hour days, and he works every day. He's a master of a dying art. He mics, records and edits on a 2 inch tape. He's extremely fast with his editing. When people slam him you should ask yourself if they have actually worked with him... because he's a very harmless sweetheart of a person.

Steve believes that a recording engineer should be like an electrician. You hire him to record your songs, and that's all. He's not there to help you, just to roll tape.

HTM: Your lyrics are really sophisticated. Where do you pull your subject matter from?

KG: I read constantly. I think lyrics are very important. If there are moments in my life when I question my own morals and ethics, I would like to be able to spin back to my lyrics and get some solace from them.

When I write songs I typically think of them as having been already written. When the band presents me with an instrumental piece of music I ask myself, "What are the words to this song? What is the melody?" I treat it as an already finished piece that I've been handed the karaoke track to. My job involves lots of listening and lots of translation but very little creation.

Blackhouse Triple Bass Attack

HTM: Do you consider yourself more of a Metal or Punk artist? Is there even a reason to categorize music these days?

KG: I got into punk/hardcore/metal/skateboarding because I hated rules. Anyone who is out there defending "real metal", "real hardcore", "real punk"-- well, they should

jump off a cliff. I'm not here to make friends.

HMT: So Kevin, you're playing with a new lineup in Blackhouse. How different is it playing without a guitarist and instead having three kickass bass players.

Ed Macomber, Blackhouse percussion

KG: I sort of assembled this band. I realized that any band which has a song where only bass, drums and vocals have a moment together rules..... so why not get rid of everything else?

It's not weird to me at all. What's weird to me is the idea of rebellious rockers sticking to a drums/bass/guitar/vocals format. Total cowards.

HMT: The first video for Blackhouse is really great. Any asprirations to get into acting someday?

KG: No.

Image still from Blackhouse "You Love Your War" Video

HMT: We're heading into the second half of 2013. What are your plans for the summer with Blackhouse?

KG: I wrote a book which will be released as a companion piece for our cd.

Thanks again Kevin, this has been a blast!

Time's up, Pencils down...That concludes our very 1st "ME"TAL 101 interview. 

Special thanks to all who've continued to support the blog by spreading the word, liking our facebook and sharing our links. 

https://www.facebook.com/HeavyMetalTextbooks

 BLACKHOUSE hails from New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Tim Catz, Mario Costa and Mike Means: Bass guitars.
Kevin Grant: vocals.
Ed Macomber: drums. 

For more information about BLACKHOUSE

Make sure to check out and purchase their tracks @ http://blackhousetechnologies.bandcamp.com

Hit them on their official facebook page 

@ https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Blackhouse/350771184935606

All images used are property of Blackhouse