With 12 great new songs, each with its own spirit, style and direction, Ghost On Ghost is the best album in Iron & Wine’s already impressive discography.
Most of Ghost On Ghost treads territory similar to Kiss Each Other Clean, just with a bit more loose-limbed joy replacing that album’s austere moments.
Ghost on Ghost is the sound of a man who's settled, but not complacent.
Bringing the scale back down to something human while injecting some jazz and sunshine into the I&W sound proves to be a very good strategy for Beam, and it makes Ghost on Ghost one of the most satisfying albums the group has done to date.
'Ghost On Ghost' lets him relax even further, relying on the band to exist as a band of their own – a lot of the music was written by them, rather than simply taking cues from their bearded leader.
Whilst arguably Beam's most consistent album for some years, there are fewer moments of raw beauty here than on past excursions, resulting in a whole that is somehow less than its impressive component parts.
It may not be quite as complete or redefining an artistic statement as some other albums released so far this year but Ghost On Ghost is a relaxed, unburdened work that should please most fans and generally be viewed positively elsewhere.
Former earnest acoustic-type Sam Beam's fifth album sees him taking further, grander steps in the shiny loafers of a cheesy 1970s crooner with a fondness for symphonic folk and a soul groove.
Ghost on Ghost is best when it’s most straightforward and worst when the experimentalism becomes desperate rather than bold.
As puzzle pieces to a full-length album, at least a third of these songs come off as superfluous and unnecessary.
Ghost on Ghost is quaint, and that’s better to hear than something that’s completely unmoving.
It may be palatable and generally inoffensive on a whole, but Ghost on Ghost really goes down best when viewed as a supplement to other better, more transcendent material already out there.
From a simple accessibility standpoint, the songs on Ghost on Ghost are not as strong as those from his past.
Not a huge fan of this one, but I really enjoy the track "Lovers' Revolution". It makes really want a Iron and wine jazz album.
Ghost on Ghost is certainly more focused than the previous record, but overall its still just too forgettable and not interesting enough to return to besides some tracks. My favorite track is Baby Center Stage.
The combination of jazz and folk is at its peak here; its raw, emotional and justly terrific.
BEST TRACKS: The Desert Babbler, New Mexico's No Breeze, Low Light Buddy of Mine, Baby Center Stage
1 | Caught In The Briars 3:12 | |
2 | The Desert Babbler 3:27 | |
3 | Joy 2:30 | |
4 | Low Light Buddy Of Mine 3:29 | |
5 | Grace for Saints and Ramblers 3:35 | |
6 | Grass Widows 2:53 | |
7 | Singers And The Endless Song 3:38 | |
8 | Sundown (Back In The Briars) 2:18 | |
9 | Winter Prayers 3:11 | |
10 | New Mexico's No Breeze 4:27 | |
11 | Lover's Revolution 5:40 | |
12 | Baby Center Stage 5:39 |
#48 | / | Uncut |