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 05/2008

    Railroad Earth
    Amen Corner

  • reviewed 01/2007

    ERIN MCKEOWN
    Sing You Sinners, 2007

  • reviewed 10/2003

    Matthew Ryan
    Regret Over the Wires

  • reviewed 04/2007

    Todd Snider
    Peace, Love and Anarchy (Rarities, B-Sides and Demos, Vol. 1)

  • reviewed 01/2012

    VARIOUS ARTISTS
    Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan

  • reviewed 03/2014

    WENDY COLONNA
    Nectar

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.