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 12/1969

    JACKSON BROWNE
    Time The Conqueror

  • reviewed 07/2004

    Dwight Yoakam
    Dwight's Used Records

  • reviewed 02/2014

    ROOSEVELT DIME
    FULL HEAD OF STEAM

  • reviewed 07/2015

    Flagship Romance
    Fee Fie Foh Fum

  • reviewed 10/2006

    PETER BRADLEY ADAMS
    Gather Up

  • reviewed 08/2008

    DAR WILLIAMS
    Promised Land

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.