MJ Lenderman - Ghost of Your Guitar Solo - Vinyl Record

Mj Lenderman is the creative endeavor of Asheville native, Jake Lenderman, whose album 'Boat Songs' received widespread acclaim upon its release by Dear Life Records in 2022. Now, Dear Life is excited to present a vinyl reissue of MJ's 2021 label debut, 'Ghost of Your Guitar Solo.' This collection features nine songs that were entirely recorded and performed by Lenderman, along with one live band track. The record showcases a fascinating process, as many of the songs were crafted and recorded in energetic, single-day sessions. They emerged from spontaneous jam sessions with his roommates, where Lenderman often freestyled lyrics that later became the backbone of the completed songs. He would jot down 20 random lines each day, discarding most but lovingly keeping a few for future use. This creative journey was part of an incredibly fruitful writing period for Lenderman in the spring of 2020. The music blends country vibes with the raw energy of a punk band, unrefined and imperfect like the intriguing characters in his songs. In this work, Lenderman expands his lyrical horizons beyond deep introspection, infusing humor into narratives that reach beyond his own experiences. He draws inspiration from authors Harry Crews and Larry Brown, both Southern, self-taught writers known for their unique balance of empathy, humor, and darkness. This blending gracefully blurs the line between humor and sadness. The resulting songs tackle themes of indulgence and struggles with drug and alcohol use, filled with self-reflection and a sense of pity, while celebrating the absurdity of it all.