Renee Heartfelt "Death of the Ghost" (Textbook)
By
Friday. Nov 11, 1:33 AM
The best debut I’ve heard in quite some time.

In a wonderful case of “don’t judge a book by its cover,” let me begin this review by getting straight to the point: Death of the Ghost is the best debut I’ve heard this year and the best debut I’ve heard in quite some time.

Upon receiving said disc at last month’s Idlewild show from Captain Den, my immediate response upon viewing the band name and album title was “fuck me, another emo band trying to be deep: why must you punish me so, Timmy?” After being assured that I would be pleasantly surprised, I reluctantly took the album, lest I receive something far worse in its place. That night I put it on and, would you believe it, by the first chorus of “Gratitude (For)” I was hooked. For those of you still mourning over Elliott’s demise, I give you Renee Heartfelt. Without sounding too… “record review-y,” the band’s vocalist (no info given on the one-sheet of individual band members, only to say that the band features ex-members of Give Up The Ghost, Count Me Out, and Striking Distance) has such an urgency in his delivery that you really believe every word that comes out of the dude’s mouth. Musically, the band recalls the aforementioned (and sorely missed) Elliott circa U.S. Songs with some Quicksand thrown in the mix.

Long story short, I can’t recommend Death of the Ghost enough. In a sea full of screamo and metalcore tripe, it’s a relief to hear Renee Heartfelt’s impassioned and ultimately believable brand of post-hardcore. You can thank me later.
www.reneeheartfelt.com
www.textbookmusic.com

Denis Buckley

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