What an impressive debut! Any review of Norwegian quintet Ghost:Dog’s first full length effort really could be boiled down to this statement. Because it’s true. Recorded last year and released today, ‘First Book Of Samuel’ is a grand, first pop-rock culmination for the five gents from small city Mo in Rana just south of the arctic circle. I say first, because there’s no reason there shouldn’t be plenty more.

Moving along the same musical lines of Suede, The Smiths and compatriots Madrugada (incidentally Ghost:Dog’s live debut was as support for the latter in 2006), they excite in especially two aspects: Their excellently catchy songwriting and singer Ivan Magnussen’s awesome efforts throughout, adding an expressive dimension to the quintet’s songs, be it when they’re grandiose pop (‘Idiot Savant’, single ‘Grand Idea’ and ‘You’re No Stone Groove’) or distorted, grunge-like rock (‘Indian Ropetrick’ and ‘Learning Curves’).

Together with producer John Cornfield (Muse, The Verve, Oasis etc) Magnussen, Rune Didriksen (guitar), Christian Lorentsen (guitar), Adam Strange (drums) and Ståle Staurset (bass) have hatched, as I’ve said, an impressive debut with ‘First Book Of Samuel’, and my guess is that before long Ghost:Dog will be a household name not only in their native Norway. They definitely deserve it…

Genre: Rock
Who: Ghost:Dog
Album: First Book Of Samuel
Label: Celestial Rock/EMI
Year: 2009
Country: Norway
Language: English

Recommended tracks:
Idiot Svant – Grand Idea – Learning Curves – You’re No Stone Groove – Indian Ropetrick