About
This is the classic tale of a boy who rose from obscurity as a closet musician in a small town just to wake finding himself in the land of wonders known as Brooklyn. With 3 full length l.p’s under his belt (the latest being “Cheer Up~it’s Raining”), songer sing writer Justin Stivers blends 60’s rock and various early 90’s bands with the sounds in the vein of Neutral Milk Hotel and Animal Collective. All of the recordings are composed in an empty farmhouse in the middle of somewhere and in basement apartments in Seattle, Portland and New York. Though guests are known to join in on the frantic and all too often schizophrenic recording sessions and on stage (the likes of The Antlers, The Stoics and solo artist Darby Cicci of Underling Records fame), the rest of the noises and ideas are produced in their entirety by Justin Stivers.
Reviews
"Cheer Up It’s Raining", is a hodgepodge of genres that jump from 90’s shoegaze, Pinback, a little Smashing Pumpkins, older Radiohead and Modest Mouse, and even a little Animal Collective thrown in the mix. It’s impossible to describe really...
the pelican’s perch
Justin’s music is layered with rich harmonies and interesting instrumental choices, and resembles everyone from Animal Collective to the Elephant Six bands to the dB’s, while aping none of them.
the nyc taper
The only logical statement I can make is that Stivers has got a cannon of great musical influences logged inside his head that he pulls from to stitch together awesome eclectic albums such as this one. I'm thrilled to not be able to classify it.
antimusic
pet ghost project is the work/sounds of brooklynite, justin stivers. sometimes me thinks old school diy ethos are dead, but then along comes a chap like mr. stivers and his pet ghost project to warm the cockles of your ever blackening heart. justin records in a farmhouse in the middle of somewhere and in basements scattered throughout some of our finest cities, and his brand of glitchy noise pop/rock is just as contrasting. if ya dig the bedroom/closet charm of neutral milk hotel’s on avery island, dont pass up checkin pet ghost project.
captain’s dead
Their indescribable, shapeshifting sound is quite admirable. Writing quality, lush post rock-ish complex pop, the Pet Ghost Project offers dynamic, sharply changing moods on each of their offerings from 'Cheer Up - It’s Raining'.
the decibel tolls
Justin Stivers is the sole musician in the Pet Ghost Project. His rock sense is imaginative with alliterative choruses and dashing noise sculptures fitting righteously alongside his singer/songwriter poise. Somewhat simple songs turn out to be rather complex and dense as you listen to them the second time around—he doesn't evolve a song around easy to follow tempos and is not afraid of risks.
J-Sin, Smother Magazine
…I cannot neglect to mention the out-and-out D.I.Y. feel of The Pet Ghost Project. No expenses were wasted in the creation of The Great Satisfactory, and while this may turn some listeners off, it strikes a true chord in me. The fact that a so complex and far-reaching album would be wrapped in a simple cover speaks volumes to Stivers’ confidence in the pure content of his sophomore album. That confidence is warranted.
Independant Clauses
…let me tell you 'talent swims along these rocky shores!'. Perhaps the best part about the pet ghost project is the way he mixes ethereal vocals, his own guitar with tracks that like the tide in a coastal storm.
Ryan’s Smashing Life
The record is noisepop (or noiseindierock, if such a category exists) at its best. Each song is loaded with crunch and grind but there’s enough hook and harmony that it doesn’t descend into the kind of blaring that annoys even the most tolerant of parents. Songs creep around inside the collages of sound, struggling to be heard inside the din. Here’s to hearing more from Pet Ghost Project.
Berkeley Press