Four years after their stellar debut album Paid Salvation in 2020, Hobart-based A. Swayze & the Ghosts return this Friday with their sophomore album Let’s Live A Life Better Than This. The ten track album is a wonderful evolution, combining the elements of the band’s self described kraut-rock, garage rock, modern psych, and folk influenced sound into one.
The result is a self made mix of new wave punk that’s aggressive yet poppy, tough but vulnerable, as fast as it is loud, and packed to the brim with heart. The sonic throwbacks and songwriting are a moment of catharsis for anyone chasing the thrill of punk music with catchy pop-lyrical nous, dance-heavy inspirations, and surprising and unpredictable moments that are consistently satisfying.
Track by Track: Let’s Live a Life Better Than This
As the opening track “Tell You All The Time” kicks in, the band’s direction is clear. Thumping, pulsing synths and super catchy guitar riffs merge into one; in all their 70’s-80’s drenched, glammy throwback goodness.
It’s a fun and effortlessly cool concoction of sonic nostalgia meeting modern indie sensibilities, like a pair of Reeboks melted into vinyl and blasted out of old speakers. Opening with quintessential punk lyrics, lead singer Andrew Swayze declares he’s “just fed up”, but listeners certainly won’t be.
In a similar vein, “Anthropology” keeps the band’s upbeat, danceable indie-punk energy rolling. Crunchy guitars and irresistibly rhythmic drums lay down a vibrant contrast to the socially aware lyrics in “People dying in the street / And I’m nearly normalcy / It’s not a tit for a tat, another swing of the axe.” This fusion of infectious energy with heavier subject matter is an interesting contradiction. Then comes “He Is Dead”, one of the album’s standout tracks. A full-throttle punk anthem, it tackles themes of false idols and consumerism head-on with biting lyrics like, “Wasn’t it John Lennon who said—Fuck John Lennon, He is dead.” The raw, confrontational attitude offers a welcome shift from the more buoyant tones of earlier tracks, injecting the album with a sharper edge.
If you thought you had A. Swayze figured out though, “Easy Come” throws a curveball, bursting out of the speakers with a pure, no-nonsense British-styled punk punch. The track ditches the synths and glitzy production, opting for a stripped-back, guitar-driven assault that showcases front man Andrew Swayze’s snarling delivery. It’s an all-out rock anthem: lean and mean, hard and fast. The drawling chorus, with lines like “I tell myself to calm down” and “Maybe I’m wrong / Maybe I’m right / Maybe I should be asleep tonight at home,” are insanely catchy and infectious. With an undeniable sing-along quality and rebellious edge, it’s an album standout.
The midpoint of the album takes a sharp heel-turn with back-to-back bangers in “Sick Kinda WRLD” and “Cool Cucumber.” Where many of the songs previous indictments on the state of the world feel at a distance from the listener, “Sick Kinda WRLD” turns the barrel on the audience. Over a pulsating blend of Devo-inspired disco beats and Talking Heads-esque eccentricity, complete with a vocoder and swirling synths, the band throws pointed jabs at the state of modern society and our complicity within it.
Through a near-mocking delivery, Andrew Swayze sneers rhetorically, “It’s a new-age world, isn’t it?” while delivering biting lines like, “We live in the fantasy of a sad old man” and “you’re late to the shopping spree.” The lyrics serve as a sharp critique of consumerism and societal contradictions. The psychological concept of learned helplessness, where repeated exposure to uncontrollable situations leaves one feeling powerless to escape, even when opportunities for change arise, feels analogous. The song embodies this frustration, highlighting our inability to break free from the system, while actively participating in it.
A genre mix and match, “Cool Cucumber” manages to restrain its smorgasbord of ideas and moments into total cohesive chaos. Bordering in a mixture of almost Ska and disco-pop, the addition of guitar solos and sax are an audible U-turn but a fun journey nonetheless.
As we enter the final stages of the album, “Others Exist” takes an unexpected journey through the tumult of lost love. Unlike earlier tracks that tackled higher brow social ills, this song is an emotional wrecking ball, showcasing frontman Andrew Swayze’s frantic and desperate lyrical delivery. The intensity here is palpable, making it one of my standout favorites from the album.
The chorus resonates deeply:
“But love is a test
And I have the answer
It’s tangled with death
How else could it be?
And I get slightly upset
But predictably stable
I just want you to say
Never leave me”
Capturing the complex, often painful nature of love and obsession, it’s a powerful moment that strips away the upbeat facade of the earlier tracks, grounding the album in raw, heartfelt emotion.
“Friends” bursts forth as a frenetic, energy-laden gut buster, instantly commanding attention with its punchy sound. This vibrant track serves as a lively appetizer before the tone shifts dramatically with “Puppy Baby.”
Opening with a solemn guitar riff, Swayze’s Bowie-like vocals drift in like a dark, captivating cloud, casting a melancholic haze over the driving drums and guitars. The contrast between the two tracks is striking; where “Friends” thrives on exuberance, “Puppy Baby” embraces a bittersweet atmosphere, coming close to U2 territory. The vocal delivery is steeped in emotion, a poignant moment that lingers in the air long after the song fades.
Closing out the album is “Before I Left,” a track that encapsulates the band’s essence and their journey throughout the record. With overdriven guitar leads and relentless energy, anthemic punk moments blend seamlessly with electronic-laden riffs, thumping basslines, and unyielding drums. As the final notes reverberate, “Before I Left” serves as a fitting farewell, providing the audience with an abundance of riches before they do in fact, leave.
Final Thoughts:
A concoction of influences and new directions, Let’s Live a Life Better Than This is a remarkable addition to A. Swayze and the Ghost’s discography, destined to be featured in playlists across the nation and beyond. The dynamic leap between punk rock anthems and infectious danceable tracks is undoubtedly a matter of personal taste; and for many it might be a leap to far. However, the seamless blending of genres showcases an evolution that many will appreciate, even if it can repeat itself at times.
Drawing sonic parallels to The Clash, The Specials, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Talking Heads, Devo, Kraftwerk (the list goes on), and an unmistakable stamp of British punk, it defies easy categorization. But you’re doing yourself a disservice if you linger too long on comparisons. To do so is to risk overlooking what’s right in front of you—a bold record that highlights growth and a willingness to take risks, and is its own thing entirely. This is a sonic transformation that signals a band unafraid to explore the unfamiliar, and the band have earned my keen eye.
While I’m not sure what the intersection of the Venn diagram is between punk rock and synth pop, but embracing each simultaneously is a riot. Ultimately though, if you don’t see yourself busting a gut on a front row barrier to punk rock guitars while also losing yourself in an infectious mix of synths, steer clear. However, if you’re a fan of genre mashing exploration, high energy instrumentation and well crafted lyrics delivered with both a fist and a handshake, you need to get on this immediately.
Let’s Live a Life Better Than This is bold, unapologetic, and endlessly surprising. So, take the band’s advice and live a better life (genre be damned!) with these tunes on your playlist. You won’t regret it.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Let’s Live a Life Better Than This is out Friday, October 25. Grab it HERE
A. Swayze & The Ghosts are also touring. Grab tickets for Australia wide shows below:
Fri 15 Nov – The Curtin – Naarm/Melb VIC – TICKETS
Fri 22 Nov – The Grand Poobah – nipaluna/Hobart TAS – TICKETS
Sun 24 Nov – Crowbar – Eora/Syd NSW – TICKETS
Thu 12 Dec – Beach Hotel – Cavanbah/Byron Bay NSW – TICKETS
Fri 13 Dec – Felon’s Barrell Hall – Meanjin/Bris QLD – TICKETS
Sat 14 Dec – Sol Bar – Maroochydore QLD – TICKETS
Head to the A. Swayze & The Ghosts website HERE for more info and links to their socials.
