by Derric Miller
— Managing Editor —
Try as you might to defeat it, the 2019 Song of the Summer is clearly Ryan Hamilton and The Harlequin Ghosts song “Mamacita.” The best advice a gambling addict can ever receive is “Can’t win if you don’t play,” but in this case … settle for second. You can find the undeniable winner and a bevy of more unapologetic hits from the international Rock/Pop Punk band, featuring Ryan Hamilton from Texas and a couple of gents from the UK–Rob Lane (Teenage Casket Company, BulletBoys UK touring bassist) and Mickey Richards on drums–on their new studio album, This is the Sound.
“Mamacita” sounds harmless, and if you don’t pay attention, it is. It’s got a simple catchy hook, clean, welcoming melodic vocals from Ryan Hamilton and a danceable beat. Of course, when you hear, “I was drunk … I was stoned. I was all alone, until that pill popping, oversleeping, soul stealing, thievin’ robbing, backbreaking, ballbusting, complicated, shoe shopping Mamacita made this house a home,” you’ll find it’s not a happy ending. It’s eerily cheerful for a song clearly about someone who is a ray of sunshine right before the solar flares from her soul burn your entire life down. Who said romance is dead? Not these guys! Van Zandt had a hand in the chorus and plays lead guitar on the track, and it’s so damn good.
If you’ve followed Hamilton at all, you’ll find that while his sense of writing hits is uncanny, he’s not afraid to peel back the flesh and expose his life experiences, even if the blood-letting beat makes you want to win a hula-hoop contest. “Bottoms Up (Here’s to Goodbye)” is another one of those style of songs, with withering lyrics like, “While you’ve been drinking, this ship’s still sinking … bottoms up here’s to goodbye!” The song is about an unhealthy relationship, maybe with a smidge of co-dependence thrown in for good clean fun, but it sure as hell sounds happy.
“Get Down” is one of the songs that throw the darkness aside for a moment, and it’s just another top-tier hit composition. It’s got a bluesy riff, and wouldn’t you know it, Van Zandt is all over this one too. The chorus should be illegal in all states it’s so addictive; few bands can write this well, simplistic with complicated fun at the same time.
The title track is a slower construct, showcasing a different side of Hamilton’s voice, which really emotes innocence although he’d be the first to admit he’s stuck his metaphorical hand into the garbage disposal a few too many times, yet came out scarred and the bleeding has stopped. For now, of course … rainbows and unicorns wouldn’t last long in this soundscape. “This is the Sound” is the most mature song on the release, and it appears to be vying for a different kind of radio appeal. More noisy, more electric, more sonically powerful than most of the album. It’d appear the guys can do no wrong.
Tom Petty is one of Hamilton’s biggest influences, and it raises its head on “Girl vs. Monster,” a real storytelling type of song, like Todd Snider when he was hinting at becoming America’s new Folk Rock Star with songs like “Alright Guy.” The song has a longing to it, a bit of a hidden Country Music appeal to it musically although Hamilton would never cater to anything other than being original–he’s far too authentic to fake it anyway.
Many times, bands want to close things out with a burner, but This is the Sound ends with “Won’t Stop Now,” with Hamilton and Emily Ewing singing in two-part harmony and by far Hamilton’s best vocals on the release. Matthew Colley is on keys, and it’s about as far a cry from “Mamacita” as you can get and still be the same creators. Look … it’s sad, it’s haunting, it’s honest, and it really makes you wonder what this band CAN’T do well.
This is the Sound should be an overwhelming success and a draw for anyone who likes Rock, Pop Punk, Folk Rock, or hey how about just good music, no matter the genre. Ryan Hamilton and The Harlequin Ghosts are waiting for you to hear something you’ve never really heard before, not this honest, this open, a dance song with stab wounds and a lush ballad of sadness that is somehow uplifting, and everything in between. When they say “This is the sound,” it’s hard to argue against them …
Genre: Rock
Band:
Ryan Hamilton – Vocals, Guitars
Mickey Richards – Drums
Rob Lane – Bass
Guest Musicians:
Steven Van Zandt – Lead Guitar (“Mamacita” and “Get Down”)
Matthew Colley – Piano, Hammond
Emily Ewing – Backing Vocals
Maurice Hipkiss – Pedal Steel
Dave Draper – Guitars, Programming, Keys
Anton Cederlund – Backing Vocals (“Bottoms Up”)
Katie Richards – Backing Vocals (“Same Page”)
Tracklisting:
1. Mamacita
2. Bottoms Up (Here’s to Goodbye)
3. Feels Like Falling In Love
4. Get Down
5. Far Cry
6. All Fall Down
7. This Is The Sound
8. Let You Go
9. So Gone
10. Girl VS Monster
11. Same Page
12. Won’t Stop Now
Label: Wicked Cool Records
Online:
https://www.facebook.com/ryanhamiltonandtheharlequinghosts
https://ryanhamiltonwcr.bandcamp.com/album/this-is-the-sound
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(8.6 / 10)
