Review : 3 - The Ghost You Gave Me : New Music Review : Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock : CD Album Music Review : Dangerdog Music Reviews

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3: The Ghost You Gave Me

Melodic/Progressive Rock

4.5/5.0

Metal Blade Records
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by Craig Hartranft, 09.26.2011

3 is a band easy to enjoy, yet often difficult to explain. This largely because they blur the lines between alternative, progressive, and melodic rock. With their sixth studio album The Ghost You Gave Me, this theme continues, and sometimes you're not sure which 3 will appear.

On the prog side 3 can be curiously heavy and infectious as on Sparrow, High Times, and Numbers while still offering segues of subtlety. Conversely or, better, alternatively the band offers a lighter melodic rock version of itself on the two longest tracks On With the Sun and Only Child. This lighter, nearly minimalist, motif seems to turn introspective on the closing track The Barrier; it's ethereal and atmospheric, and again curiously infectious. Then for pure alternative, and popular, accessibility there's the clever and immensely catchy React. This song along will remain buzzing in your ears long after the album concludes. Both Pretty and Afterglow allude to the same motif, but only the latter has the hook of React. It's also a bit more complex than the former. With it's strong groove, Pretty could be the song closest to straight melodic rock.

Perhaps, once again, two elements are in focus on The Ghost You Gave Me. The first we have heard before: Joey Eppard's smooth, soothing, and passionate vocals. But also Chris "Gartdrumm" Gartmann's brilliant and expressive drumming drives most every song.

With The Ghost You Gave Me, 3 continues to transcend themselves and evolve, while still remaining entertaining and intriguing. Very recommended.

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