It’s a towering achievement, building on what has come before while expanding it in astonishing ways.
Grant’s work here aims at something much more rare than perfect – to be entirely necessary, serving to not only function as an essential outpouring for the artist, but as a well-intentioned fount of advice to the listener
John Grant has been through a hell of a lot in his 44 years and Pale Green Ghosts stands as a testament to being open, honest and creative when it matters most.
With Grant’s new Icelandic roots and electronica loyalties as a foundation for the sonic properties of Pale Green Ghosts—likely a far cry from the Midlake-backed organ-roots rock of Queen…—the album somehow retains everything that’s made Grant such an anomaly in the underground pop world.
He said it best himself: this is audacious stuff from one talented motherfucker.
It’s not all change though, there is still a sense of continuity.
There's the occasional dud, and occasional dull moment, but Pale Green Ghosts mostly succeeds in expanding Grant's musical palette, and his wry, knowing observations and lyricism remain as sharp as ever.
Grant's ease of disclosure can be unnerving, but it's this sense that nothing is (seemingly) too private for him to share in a song that makes Pale Green Ghosts so potent and, ultimately, accessible.
Seeing him live is what really made this click for me. Although the music isn't always exactly to my taste, Grant himself is just so likeable, and as a result the music is filled with personality and character. Great listen
Favourites: Glacier, GMF, Pale Green Ghosts, You Don't Have To
Least Favourites: Ernest Borgnine
It can't be easy attempting to follow a substantial debut like 'Queen of Denmark' but sophomore set 'Pale Green Ghosts' marked no retreat in terms of confidence or eccentricity. This time a more bare bones electronic framework is employed which has the bonus that variety is easier to achieve, especially in terms of beats and tempo.
The big ballads 'Glacier' and 'It Doesn't Matter to Him', plus the lighter tongue in cheek 'GMF', show Grant can still pull off similar stuff to the debut but it's ... read more
Pale Green Ghosts ~ ★★★★★
Blackbelt ~ ★★★★★
GMF ~ ★★★★★
Vietnam ~ ★★★★★
It Doesn't Matter to Him ~ ★★★★★
Why Don't You Love Me Anymore ~ ★★★★★
You Don't Have To ~ ★★★★★
Sensitive New Age Guy ~ ★★★★☆
Ernest Borgnine ~ ★★★★☆
I Hate This Town ~ ★★★★☆
Glacier ~ ★★★★★
⏳ new & improved: time-weighted score ⏳
Seeing him live is what really made this click for me. Although the music isn't always exactly to my taste, Grant himself is just so likeable, and as a result the music is filled with personality and character. Great listen
Favourites: Glacier, GMF, Pale Green Ghosts, You Don't Have To
Least Favourites: Ernest Borgnine
It can't be easy attempting to follow a substantial debut like 'Queen of Denmark' but sophomore set 'Pale Green Ghosts' marked no retreat in terms of confidence or eccentricity. This time a more bare bones electronic framework is employed which has the bonus that variety is easier to achieve, especially in terms of beats and tempo.
The big ballads 'Glacier' and 'It Doesn't Matter to Him', plus the lighter tongue in cheek 'GMF', show Grant can still pull off similar stuff to the debut but it's ... read more
Pale Green Ghosts ~ ★★★★★
Blackbelt ~ ★★★★★
GMF ~ ★★★★★
Vietnam ~ ★★★★★
It Doesn't Matter to Him ~ ★★★★★
Why Don't You Love Me Anymore ~ ★★★★★
You Don't Have To ~ ★★★★★
Sensitive New Age Guy ~ ★★★★☆
Ernest Borgnine ~ ★★★★☆
I Hate This Town ~ ★★★★☆
Glacier ~ ★★★★★
⏳ new & improved: time-weighted score ⏳
1 | Pale Green Ghosts 6:03 | 93 |
2 | Blackbelt 4:18 | 88 |
3 | GMF 5:13 | |
4 | Vietnam 5:28 | |
5 | It Doesn't Matter to Him 6:26 | 100 |
6 | Why Don't You Love Me Anymore 6:11 | 84 |
7 | You Don't Have To 5:53 | 89 |
8 | Sensitive New Age Guy 4:41 | |
9 | Ernest Borgnine 4:53 | 77 |
10 | I Hate This Town 4:03 | 86 |
11 | Glacier 7:37 | 91 |
#1 | / | musicOMH |
#1 | / | Rough Trade |
#2 | / | The Guardian |
#4 | / | Uncut |
#4 | / | Under the Radar |
#5 | / | MOJO |
#8 | / | BBC Radio 6 Music |
#9 | / | Drowned in Sound |
#9 | / | Q Magazine |
#18 | / | Clash |