Album review: 260 MPH

by JACK DIABLO
If one finds oneself too limiting, there is relief in project bands. It could even be argued that pigeon-holing yourself to a certain degree aids in, if not outright forces, creative expression down divergent paths. For the members of the 2416 (the greatest thing to come out of Mayport since jumbo shrimp), they have found such an outlet in their other band, Poisonous Ghost. As they seek to uncover the convergence of the Cramps and Black Sabbath as the 2416, their goal is everything else as Poisonous Ghost. From blues to psychedelia to absurd, synthy something-or-other, nothing is off limits or taboo this go-round.
This album is clearly about having some fun and pushing certain influences, sometimes conflicting ones, to the extreme. This isn’t to be taken too seriously, which isn’t to say that it isn’t serious music, it just isn’t what we can expect them to be doing years from now. The production is extremely DIY, if not a bit sloppy, but that is half its charm.
Is this the best possible album that could have been made at this point in time, by this group of people? Probably not, but it is an interesting and relevant footnote that deserves consideration and it is certainly unique. Will Poisonous Ghost ever headline a national tour? Doubtful, but the 2416 certainly will at which point 260 MPH will become a collector’s item, an impossible-to-find musical obscurity. You have to admire albums like this one where the packaging becomes a private little thank you to the listener. Hand-assembled albums create a physical link between the people made it and the individuals who enjoy it. Someone will seek this album out at some point in the future as a record in the literal sense of a particular moment in time.
If nothing else, we can hope that Poisonous Ghost continues to serve as a creative outlet for some of Jacksonville’s most creative and prolific musicians. The good news is, they can go anywhere from here. –