I’m a little late to the Ghost Beach train, but after their little fan-tease yesterday I’ve hopped on and don’t want to get off. The duo announced that they had a little treat for us and this track is it. What a treat it is! I have a secret (well not so secret anymore) soft spot for John Mayer. His Continuum album was my everything for a hot 2 months when it came out in 2006. I saw him live when he passed through Syracuse a year later. When he swooned his insane (admit it…he’s real good) guitar skills into the opening chords I lost it in the audience. Fangirl moment aside, “Vultures” is a solid track to begin with and Ghost Beach’s 80’s synth-pop re-up is just as solid.
Mayer’s lyrical abilities are underrated. Sure his earlier stuff was poppy and cliche, but Continuum was really a coming out for him. The “Your Body Is A Wonderland” days were far gone and the blues were back in full bloom. Thank God, too. His roots in the genre suit him. This track changed my music taste in more ways now that I think about it. It introduced me to the blues which lead me down the road to soul, disco, and funk. I feel like I own Mayer a thank you, but I’m just going to appreciate the music.
The bluesy chords of the original remixed into a bouncy synth keyboard is a sign of the times. It all seems so appropriate for where we are sonically and culturally. The sound balances itself between being futuristic and retro. The transitions are seamless and fairly timeless. Am I listening to a Tears for Fears track or some toned down Daft Punk? Who cares, really? This is opulence for the ears and questioning it is erroneous. The music is here and the music is now.
How do I stop myself from being just a number?
How will I hold my head to keep from going under?”
The vocal production and lyric delivery is really what makes this track. The chopped and screwed bits melt with the synth background and keep the lightheartedness of the track alive. It’s blues, but it’s pop. It’s a track that’s meant to get you going, to get you up out of your chair and make a name for yourself. We’re always running from what we want, aren’t we? There’s a weird fear in getting what we want…like our expectations are too high. Whatever it is, this track argues against that. Where Mayer’s suits a more relaxed crowd, Ghost Beach’s pushes us up into the world and makes it seem okay to go for it. So why not? Let’s get what we want and fight the forces that try to get in our way.
Ghost Beach – Vultures (John Mayer Cover)