Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!
Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!

JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Rusty Shipp

Rusty Shipp
Mortal Ghost

Street Date: June 9, 2017
Style: Rock / Grunge
Official Site: Official Site
Buy It: iTunes
Buy It: AmazonMP3


Nautical rock 'n' roll band Rusty Shipp completely intrigued me with their single "Sinking Scarabs" last year and have gone on to thoroughly impress me with their full-length album, Mortal Ghost. A band that blends classic surf rock like the Beach Boys, the raw energy of Nirvana, and the musical stylings of groups like Thrice or Foo Fighters may seem like a novelty, but instead, the Nashville rockers pull it off by borrowing the best elements from each area. Their name is a play on the lead singer's name, Russ T. Shipp, and fits perfectly into the nautical themes the band uses.

"Sea Sentinels" kicks the album off with a rocking instrumental that gives you a solid taste of what Rusty Shipp has to offer from a musical perspective. "Treading Water" keeps the nautical theme going with some heavy reverb on the vocals. The song starts with vocals and bass guitar only, but at 32 seconds, those both drop out and are replaced by a guitar riff that would make Green Day proud. Finally, all of the instruments come together for a punk flavored song that's difficult not to love -- especially the surf-inspired guitars in the third verse. "Devil Jonah" continues the rocking with a slower and more deliberate riff. "Crack Baby" slows the pace a touch and introduces an acoustic guitar that battles back and forth with the distorted electric. The 6/8 time signature gives the song a nice feel and super catchy chorus. "SS Naronic" is an interesting track that tells the story of a shipwreck in 1893. The large steamship disappeared on February 11, 1893 and was never discovered, but the lyrics contain the words of a message in a bottle found outlining the ship's sinking on February 19, 1893. (Most believe the ship sunk due to striking an iceberg.) Shipp sings from the perspective of L. Winsel who wrote the bottled letter, "God, please tell me there is more than this; that this cold abyss is not the end. Tell me is it more than an accident or wanting to teach a lesson. Show me how it's all a part of the plan." The song's factual backstory, interesting viewpoint, and sweet guitar riff make it an album favorite. "Hotel Bible" closes the first half of the album with a song that explores the inner struggles of someone in a hotel room who turns to a hotel Bible. What starts as an attempt to prove God as a fake turns into the person giving their life to Christ. The storytelling, song layout, and instrumentation give it the feel of an epic.

"Song of Storms" opens the second half with an acoustic instrumental before moving into the fast-paced punk rock of "Caligynephobia" (the abnormal fear of beautiful women -- otherwise known as gynephobia or venustraphobia). The track has an old school sound and is a great punk rock jam. Next up, Rusty Shipp attempts a very dangerous task: covering a Beatles song. While there are some amazing Beatles' covers, such as Joe Cocker's version of "With a Little Help From My Friends," so many others fail miserably. Thankfully, Rusty Shipp goes after the song most fitting to their style: the white album's "Helter Skelter." The track is arguably the most raw and rocking song in the entire Beatles' discography and Rusty Shipp pulls it off beautifully. The song ends with Shipp screaming Paul's iconic "I've got blisters on me fingers" before coming back in for a very different type of reprise than found on the white album. "Tip of My Tongue" changes things up with a track more reminiscent of an early Foo Fighters song, but the vibe still works within the context of the album. "The Lighthouse," an acoustic tune that is the tamest song on the album, brings the nautical theme back into focus and points to Jesus as the lighthouse. The album closes with one of the band's older songs in "Davy Jones" (formerly "Davy Jones Ain't Got Nothing on Me"). The song has been re-recorded and re-worked a bit with a new intro and a better overall sound. I've been jamming to this song for a while now, and this newly recorded version steps up the sound and production, but the familiar line, "My God holds the keys to death and Hades; Davy Jones ain't got nothing on me" is still a cool comparison to our Savior with the legend of Davy Jones and his locker at sea.

I had a feeling Rusty Shipp had some serious potential after hearing "Sinking Scarabs" and the Hold Fast to Hope EP, but they really knocked it out of the park with their full-length record. The three-piece band's name may reference a sunken ship, but there is a pretty nice treasure within. Russ T. Shipp's voice may not be for everyone, but the throwback to a vocalist like Kurt Cobain is clearly evident. While I was honestly hoping for a little more of the surf rock sound in the album, Mortal Ghost is still a stellar venture and has Rusty Shipp releasing an independent rock record that is very likely to end up in my Top 10 albums this year. Don't get bogged down in the same ol', same ol' being pushed on the radio and give these guys a shot instead.

- Review date: 6/8/17, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: Valinor Records
. Album length: 12 tracks: 52 minutes, 44 seconds
. Street Date: June 9, 2017
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. Sea Sentinels (1:56)
  2. Treading Water (4:36)
  3. Devil Jonah (4:07)
  4. Crack Baby (5:13)
  5. SS Naronic (5:20)
  6. Hotel Bible (6:26)
  7. Song of Storms (0:59)
  8. Caligynephobia (4:42)
  9. Helter Skelter (5:34)
  10. Tip of My Tongue (3:59)
  11. The Lighthouse (4:09)
  12. Davy Jones (5:42)

 

 

 

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This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



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