2011-03-04
Will Phalen is a Milwaukee transplant to the gold coast of Chicago. Although he is frontman for The Stereo Addicts, Holy Ghost Gold Coast is his solo effort in folk and is self-described as cosmic American music. He enjoyed recording this album at home within the quiet confines that apartment living demands. He feels limitation breeds creativity. The first song “Candycane Mountain in My Mind” offers up simple acoustic picking with background synthesizer that lends a bit of an ethereal mood. “Suddenly” is an upbeat tune with keyboard synth and harmonica elements added for interest. In “Morning Will Come” Phalen is not always completely on pitch but this song is “ear” catching along with breathy voice modulation. The title track shows Phalen’s flawless guitar picking, and along with harmonica, is a soothing end. Recommended tracks: 1-3-4-8-10. Pam VandeKerkhoffTONI PRICE
TALK MEMPHIS
Jim Keaveny
Put It Together
JOHN MCCUTCHEON
This Land: Woodie Guthrie's America
Dirk Powell
Time Again
Various Artists
Por Vida: A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo
PALEFACE
One Big Party
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