Album Details

• Artist: Slingshot Dakota
• Album: Their Dreams Are Dead, But Ours Is The Golden Ghost
• Label: Independently Released
• Year of Release: 2007
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: digitalbath on 2008-03-03

After becoming a two-piece band, Slingshot Dakota put out their 2007 release, Their Dreams are Dead, But Ours is the Golden Ghost. Don't be mistaken though, having lost a member doesn't mean they've lost any artistic capabilities.  The album itself is reminiscent of Mates of State simply because of the build of the group (Female singer/pianist and Male drummer).  The instrumentation actually reminds me more of Motion City Soundtrack though and overall it was a joy to listen to.  I've listened to the album about three times now and it hasn't gotten old.  Their lyrics, though they are the most intelligent I've ever read, show a definite story line.  The beginning describes two people who are happy together, and eventually the feeling subsides, but by the end of the album they are ready to try again.

Personally, I feel that the music gets better as the lyrics get more depressing.  The drums (done by Tom Patterson) always command attention and it helps that Carly Comando is a classical pianist as well.  The music isn't anything for a theorist to stand in awe at, but I find myself bobbing my head throughout the entire album.  Songs like, "Until the Day I Die" will have you singing along as loud as you can.  Many of the songs show that Comando truly does command her keyboard with a certain level of professionalism such as "South 1st" and "Let Go."  "I-78" is also a beautifully arranged piece.

Slingshot Dakota's 2007 release Their Dreams are Dead, But Ours is the Golden Ghost, has made me apprehensive and impatient for their arrival in my hometown so I can watch them do what they do best, play music.  I would recommend this album to any pop/rock fan, especially those into Motion City Soundtrack, Mates of State, or even Sound Team, and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. 

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