As the ringleader of
Fake Problems,
Chris Farren strikes more than a few similarities to
Bright Eyes’
Conor Oberst, particularly in the way both songwriters mix emo with traces of alt-country.
Real Ghosts Caught on Tape seriously downplays the twang of
Farren’s other albums, though, replacing it with a new emphasis on buoyant pop and the sort of energetic, heartland punk-rock championed by
the Gaslight Anthem. This is still the
Farren show, but kudos also go to producer
Ted Hutt, the same man who recorded
Gaslight Anthem's two breakthrough albums.
Hutt knows how to couch his clients’ punk tendencies in other genres, from
Gaslight's
Springsteen-styled anthems to
Flogging Molly’s Celtic workouts, and he does the same to
Real Ghosts. With its cowpunk guitars, ‘60s pop harmonies, and indie rock chord progressions, this is essentially a tour through all of
Fake Problems’ influences, and a fairly tuneful tour at that. ~ Andrew Leahey