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Ghost Stories
Quixoticism
[Sonic Boom; 2007]
Rating: 6.1
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GHOST STORIES
QUIXOTICISM (2007)


Raw but meticulous, gentle yet erratic -- two phrases I would associate with the songwriting power of Ron Lewis. Formerly of the Fruit Bats, among other projects, Lewis locked himsef -- not literally -- into a bedroom recording studio and, under the name, Ghost Stories has brought us Quixoticism.
Lo-fi albums are a challenge to create and, for that matter, to listen to, but Lewis has no trouble bringing his strange blend of pscyh indie rock and haunting folk music to us.

It's strange, but whenever I listen to an album that I KNOW was created by one person, I find that the album is almost always more orderly, structured and seemingly meticulous than it would be in the hands of a normal band. Too many cooks in the kitchen, perhaps. Quixoticism is, not surprisingly a well-ordered and highly structural CD -- you won't hear any off-key notes or any instrument where it shouldn't be. If you've got a couple years to work on an album and have complete creative control, you'd better get it right.

And yet that same chaos that accompanies more albums could have brought more life to this album -- because, despite being called Ghost Stories, this album is all about being alive.

A first glance at the track list will surely confuse you -- I know it perplexed me to no end. I swore I'd picked up a goth CD -- songs about catacombs and vampires? I was pleasantly surprised to find that, quite the opposite was true. Quixoticism is filled with, well, joy -- it's not dark and drab in the slightest. That's not to say there isn't sorrow -- but the sorrow is genuine and doesn't come across as pining. It's slow, gentle stuff -- not something everyone would enjoy, but something nice enough for a cold, winter afternoon.

Take "Secret Life of Union, Part 2," for instance. While the bird/animal noises in the background are confusing, the gently cascading guitars and ghostly, sorrowful wails make a touching addition to the album. It's cheesy, but who cares, as long as it's well done?

The rest of the album doesn't reach these heights, but we are treated to some surprising, but non-boundary-pushing sonic treats. It's pleasant enough, without being 'great.'

If I were to pick another track that defined the album, it'd be "Secret Life of Union, Part 1." Strange as it is that Part 2 comes before Part 1, we see that the tracks are night and day -- showing the breadth of Lewis' musical talent. Handclapping, keyboards, glockenspiels, it's all very upbeat and wonderful -- yet not as lovely as Part 2, but perhaps lacking the 'cheese.'

Some of the same joy I found in both "Secret Life"s is heard on "The Motions," and "Nettles in Your Mouth."

And yet, the remaining songs lack that punch that would really make this album great. It almost seems like Lewis poured his energy into a few tracks and neglected the rest. They sound more dead than alive, which is truly sad. "Not Even a Vampire Would Drink My Blood," emerging as a perfect example -- what a lame duck track, the signature line repeated ad nauseum.

Still, Lewis has accomplished something here -- he's shown us he can write songs of considerable power and gentleness. I expect great things from him in the future. Songs to Check Out: "Secret Life of Union" Part 1&2 as well as "Nettles in Your Mouth."
Songs to Avoid: "Not Even a Vampire Would Drink My Blood," is too much - as are "You Wear it Like a Stained Glass Window"

SCORE: 7.5

GHOST STORIES-QUIXOTICISM

Fans of Bishop Allen and Sufjan will admire Ghost Stories for the twee factor, but folks (like me) who prefer a little more bite to their music will admire the band's use of hum, buzz, clatter and noise as a backdrop to the band's lighter elements. Quixoticism bounces from vaguely alt-country songs like "The Black Hand" and "Catacombs" through the deceptively simple, "You Wear It Like a Stained Glass Window"—a song that is essentially an acoustic guitar and lots of harmony, with other electronic noises bubbling underneath. And then there's, "Isn't it Appropriate That Way," which may be the best use of feedback since Neil Young produced Arc back in the 1990s. The album isn't so much a collection of tunes as a sound collage that is dreamlike and easy to listen to, if that's what you want, but at the same time it will reward careful listeners with its intricately layered sounds and textures.

Created by Ron Lewis, whose past projects include work with Colin Meloy, The Dismemberment Plan, The Joggers, and Fruit Bats, this is an album well worth checking out. You can stream the album here. It gets Berkeley Place's highest possible recommendation.

You Wear it Like a Stained Glass Window-Ghost Stories

Catacombs-Ghost Stories

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Ghost Stories | Quixoticism (Sonic Boom Recordings)

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Written by Jeremy Goldmeier

Whatever comparisons one wants to apply—and jeez, there's so many trendy artists out there to name-drop—Quixoticism succeeds because it lacks any of the pretensions that so often scour records of this type. Pop connoisseurs, be warned: January 23 marks the day when your heads will explode. On a crowded release day that sees fresh albums from the Shins, Deerhoof, and Of Montreal, indie record rats are going to hoard enough smart and edgy hooks to last them through the remainder of winter. So it's more or less guaranteed that this release from Ghost Stories (aka songwriter Ron Lewis) will go practically unnoticed, and not just because of its lack of name recognition. While the aforementioned artists warp familiar pop sounds into strange and fascinating new styles, Lewis' homegrown project seems more than happy to bask in its straightforward, meat 'n' sweet potatoes take on pop rock. But who says that's a sin? Lewis has built a distinguished rap sheet over his musical career, including collaborations with Colin Meloy and the Fruit Bats. Clearly, he's learned a bit from each artist with whom he's played. Quixoticism's "The Black Hand," with its punchy, marching beat and ringing surf guitar, sounds like a page right out of the Decemberists' playbook. The quieter acoustic numbers on the album, meanwhile, recall fresh Fruit Bats guano—don't worry, I'm trying to be clever here, not insulting. But whatever comparisons one wants to apply—and jeez, there's so many trendy artists out there to name-drop—Quixoticism succeeds because it lacks any of the pretensions that so often scour records of this type. It's like the musical loves of Lewis' life refracted through his own songwriting smarts. Following the example of his cohorts and idols, Lewis crams most of his best material onto the disc's first half. "Catacombs" begins the album as a run-of-the-mill earnest acoustic number. But then it begins to live up to its title, guiding the listener through echoing, mellotron-backed bridge sections, before ending with a hopeful upswell of "na na" vocals and wistful whistling. It leads straight into "The Upper Ten," a cheeky rocker that delights in its left-of-center chord progression. Lewis couples it with "The Lower Five," another slow drifter that feels like the sound of the album trying to catch its breath. "You Wear It Like a Stained Glass Window" closes out the opening suite with some of the album's most abrasive and arresting guitar work, illustrating how dissonance can work wonders within the context of a pop song. The rest of the record more or less splits its time between sonic sunshine and gloom, but nothing really rises to the accomplishments of the opening set of tunes. In some ways, Quixoticism works pretty well as the title for this record. Here's an album that hearkens back to a simpler time, when an artist didn't need krautrock or euro-disco influences to garner attention. It was about the tunes, man! So if Ron Lewis continues his quest to rekindle the old values of indie pop...well, of course he'll fail, but it'll be fun to watch him try. B- | Jeremy Goldmeier

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Ghost Stories Quixoticism Sonic Boom Recordings www.sonicboomrecordings.com/ghoststories/

Two words alternately describe this album, brilliance and blah. The album follows along the same lines as The Shins and possibly a less raw The Decemberists, yet just doesn't have enough of a good thing to keep me interested. There are 4 or 5 tracks on the album which are very good, and in fact absolutely brilliant, but it seems like all the talent was squeezed out in concentrated form and the rest is filler. Ghost Stories is the creation of Ron Lewis, who has associated himself with the likes of The Fruit Bats, The Joggers, and Colin Meloy in times past. Ron actually recorded each track in his own home on 8-track recording equipment, as well as produced and mixed the entire album. It seems that the lo-fi image that was intended for the album was propagated by a substandard mixing job. The vocals were difficult to discern over the overpowering instruments at times which may or may not have been the intention, but it bothered me. The tracks I enjoyed all tended to be at the beginning of the album. "Catacombs" reminded me of The Decemberists with its raw feel, lush melodies, and innovative supporting harmonies. My absolute favorite track, however, is "The Upper Ten/The Lower Five". This track has such flippin' sweet chord progressions that when combined with the vocals, became similar to early They Might Be Giants (one of my favorite bands…). "You Wear It Like a Stained Glass Window" begins with a piercing guitar hovering on a single note which eventually gives way to a smooth, soft melody with airy vocals. "The Motions" seems like it could be the melding of The Postal Service and Zero 7 with its smooth rising and falling melodies. The tracks towards the end are a different story. They become much stranger and less listener friendly, which may show musical growth over a period of time since the album is more of a compilation of works over a period of 7 years. That being said, it is my opinion that the album would have been better off with less of a time span. I am really torn on this album, although I can say that even though every track on the album isn't an instant classic, the songs that are good are absolutely brilliant. Definitely worth a listen, and that's the final word! -Liger Woods Track List: 1. Catacombs 2. The Upper Ten/The Lower Five 3. You Wear It Like a Stained Glass Window 4. The Motions 5. Secret Life of the Union Part II 6. The Black Hand 7. The Nettles In Your Mouth 8. Isn't It Appropriate That Way 9. Secret Life of the Union Part I 10. The Pink Princess Eskimonia 11. Even A Vampire Wouldn't Drink My Blood Check out more reviews

Ghost Stories
Quixoticism
(Sonic Boom)
By Michael Edwards
February 08, 2007

Joining the list of artists with misleading names is Ghost Stories, the moniker adopted by Ron Lewis. Rather than the dark, ethereal music the listener might expect, Quixoticism is jam-packed with jangle-y pop music with a side order of psychedelia, which can come as a bit of a shock. Still, once the initial surprise is gone, there is a lot to like about Quixoticism's its mix of complex arrangements and simple pop songs that get more addictive with each subsequent listen. Some of the songs date back more than seven years, something that helps to explain the variety in the 11 tracks. Lewis has obviously picked up some tricks during his time playing with the Fruit Bats and Colin Meloy without losing his own identity. Plus, it really helped that the album was home recorded, with Lewis playing pretty much everything, ensuring that the songs aren't too polished. The results bring together the strangeness of Of Montreal and the pop mentality of the Marlboro Chorus. As debuts go, Quixoticism is both ambitious and a satisfying listen. It's a pity that it is being released in January because there's a really good chance it will be forgotten by the end of the year when the "Best Of" lists are being compiled, as it could turn out to be one of those almost undiscovered gems.

Song of the Day - Ghost Stories

Ghost Stories is Ron Lewis, a multi-instrumentalist who has honed his chops playing with Fruit Bats, the Joggers, and Colin Meloy. Quixoticism (on local Sonic Boom Recordings) is his debut album, and while it can, admittedly, be tagged with numerous clichés of music-critic shorthand (lo-fi, indie pop, epic, etc.), it blithely defies pigeonholing. Had this 11-song set been made 20 or 30 years ago, mouth-breathing record nerds would devote entire blogs to it. Take "The Upper Ten/The Lower Five," with its winding, indelible melody just brimming with the sort of jubilance one associates with chase montages from Scooby-Doo, albeit viewed through a lens of Belle & Sebastian fandom. And the arrangements! Nitrous oxide backing vocals, harmonium, sitar... if the devil is in the details, Lewis is Beelzebub incarnate. Surrender to him, now. KURT B. REIGHLEY

Ghost Stories "Quixoticism" (Sonic Boom 2007)



"Tilting at Windmills" soundtracked to perfection

'Utterly regardless of material interests in comparison with honour and devotion.' With a title such as 'Quixoticism' the latest Ghost Stories release has much to live up to and live up to such lofty ideals it does. The musical brainchild of Ron Lewis presents Hi-Fi ambition beneath a Lo-Fi veneer. A voice reminiscent of the late Elliot Smith and chirpy harmonies combine to create bedroom psychedelia of the highest order.

'Catacombs' builds from acoustic beginnings before opening up with stabs of rhythm section. Throughout the entire record, subtle 'la la la' harmonies provide the perfect backdrop to the hauntingly fragile lead vocal. 'The Motions' has a distinct music box, slightly medieval feeL. Its birdsong intro and motor vehicle fade make it a pleasing piece that could easy find a place on 'Abbey Road.' 'The Black Hand' has a driving drum beat and skiffle feel that slides nicely into 'The Nettles in Your Mouth'. Beautiful acoustic guitar, melodica (?) and soaring harmonies are preceded by huge beats and spooky Theremin. Tasty.

'Isn't it Appropriate That Way' and 'The Upper Ten / The Lower Five' are the albums 'pop' offerings. The later managing to squeeze REMs' Stand, Blurs' Coffee & TV and a hint of Pink Floyd together in superb fashion. With great arrangements and even greater titles (Even a Vampire Wouldn't Drink My Blood), 'Quixoticism' is a triumph. Surely a Lo-Fi classic for years to come.


Date review added: Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Reviewer: Jason Walnut

GHOST'>http://www.spin.com/features/band_of_the_day/2007/01/070131_ghoststories/">GHOST STORIES BAND FEATURED AS SPIN.COM's ARTIST OF THE DAY

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