Hospital Ships

The term "wall of shit," coined by Jordan Geiger (lead songwriter and singer of Minus Story) to describe the production of their haphazard pop ways, fits perfectly. With Geiger now flying solo as Hospital Ships, you want, at first blush, to believe that his songs are now more intimate and less widescreen schizoid pop. Well, yes and no. Geiger's voice has that mad genius warble that's both inviting and a little off-putting, and even confined to himself he still delivers some ostentatious instrumentation. "I Want It To Get Out" is a storm in a teacup, with its booming, fuzzy electronic bass and swirling organ and background vocals, and it ends up being a pretty huge song. On the other hand, the plaintive guitar, minimal instrumentation and vocal lament of "Sink Your Teeth Into Me" make it simple, easy and immediately catchy. "Wall of shit" has always been a tool to make the fake more real and remind the listener that there's a human being making personal music behind it all. With this album, Geiger doesn't need his "wall of shit" to make that formidable impression.