WILL PHALEN

Holy Ghost Gold Coast

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 VandeKerkhoff

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 08/2007

    TEDDY THOMPSON
    Upfront & Down Low

  • reviewed 12/2010

    THE SPARES
    Everything Is Easy

  • reviewed 06/2011

    THE WOODSHEDDERS
    O Dig

  • reviewed 08/2009

    OR, THE WHALE
    Self-Titled

  • reviewed 07/2007

    SEAN HAYES
    Flowering Spade

  • reviewed 05/2006

    Jack Radcliff & Al Oliveira
    Two Hot to Handle

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.