The algorithm sensed the spooky season was in town and trick-or-treated me to this caped rocker.  Isaac Rother & the Phantoms hail from a decrepit mansion decorated with string-lights and framed posters of Frankenstein, delivering some proper kitschy rock-and-roll.  This is that kind of Cramps-ish gnarly surf shit that flew to the future from the 60s so you can trick-or-treat your eardrums.  I think a lot of artists love to borrow those oldie motifs, but The Phantoms embody the best of it without the pretentiousness of being some kind of high art.  Let this man tell you he loves you as much as he loves pizza and then listen to him absolutely shredddddd his six-string about it.  Just cut two holes in an old bedsheet, grab the nearest plastic pumpkin with a black strap, and head over to phantom-daddy’s house for some candy.  Some highlights:

Heeby Jeebies

I’m a fanatic for hair and this dude’s ginormous black fro caught my eye instantly.  This track is absolutely addictive on the first spin, from the Little Richard “WHOOOS” to the gravelly heartbreak lyrics.  And check out this video.  The synchronized guitar moves.  The snarl.  The backup singers and masked dancers.  Everything in this video came out of a 25-cent gumball machine.  Notice that this is where the Phantom himself receives his magical boned necklace that brings him to life – in the horror canon (in my mind) this must be a relic passed down from none other than Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.

Hit Me Baby One More TIme

YES!  YES!  YES!  Give me Britney with a crunch any day!  Isaac Rother & the Phantoms reinvent the classic pop bop into a frenetic high-drama stomper laced with delicious guitar yearning.  With a little phantom flygirl and some ye-olde fetish imagery, this one gives me a particular nostalgia by reminding me of my teen sexual awakening while making Britney palatable for the era (I didn’t appreciate her until many years later).

Ghost Party

This is his latest track from what I can tell.  Just absolutely senseless punk covered in sweat with wicked sonic twiddles.  This garagey deliciousness instantly transports me to every NYC basement bar where I’ve had one-too-many $9 vodka crans and I’m holding onto the walls so I can keep rocking out to the sound without tumbling over.

The Phantom

Just pure fun.  Little Shop of Phantoms hits the sweet spot and the video is just full of reasons to cackle.  Now go check-out Isaac Rother & the Phantoms and get your ghoul on.

isaacrother.com