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Review While certain tracks on YHF only revealed their glories in the quiet moments where small sounds shifted and unravelled in front of your ears, Ghost attempts to give you a more focussed audio verite. This could explain why, on the two tracks that extend beyond the five minute mark, they really stretch out, for nigh on quarter of an hour each. It's as though Tweedy and pals have shifted their faith from craftsmanship to the power of repetition. ''Spiders'' can't help but remind you of the motorik experimentation of Neu! crossed with the freeform guitar of Tom Verlaine.
In fact it's guitars that are the album's touchstone. Tweedy, describing his style herein as: 'inspired amateurism' is being typically modest. His Neil Young-like tone and frenzied fretboard manglings make the perfect subversive backdrop to the traditional song formats the band work within. One can only guess at how good this will sound when combined with new member Nels Cline's even further-out extemporisations.
The band never forget their Americana roots, however. A song like ''Muzzle Of Bees'' can still remind one of wide open spaces (but still undercut with brooding electric menace) and, when it comes to tracks like ''Hummingbird'' and ''Company In My Back'', there's no denying that Tweedy still has an almost Beatlesque eye for a tune.
Overall this isn't really a step on from YHF; more of a step back and to the side as the band (and producer Jim O'Rourke) try to capture their live sound in a studio setting. Yet lest this be seen as being a bad thing, remind yourself of how good they were back in the days of Being There. Tweedy and co. are just doing what comes naturally, in a natural way again. Long may they continue... --Chris Jones
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Another reason to buy this album not mentioned in the other reviews is that if you have an internet connection stick it in your CD-ROM drive to listen to a complete streaming concert recorded live at the Vic Theatre, Chicago. The set list is:
via Chicago
The Late Greats
Company in My Back
Hummingbird
Radio Cure
At Least That's What You Said
Hell Is Chrome
I am trying to break your heart
Kamera
Handshake Drugs
Wishful Thinking
Shot in the arm
War on war
Muzzle of Bees
Jesus, etc.
Poor places
Spiders
I'm the man who loves you
I'm a wheel
Kicking television (previously unreleased song)
Heavy metal drummer
California Stars
Passenger Side
The lonely 1
Misunderstood
If like me you have trouble playing this concert, download the newest version of Quicktime from apple.com.
YHF raised my expectations to impossible levels, but 'A ghost is born' takes us to a new place where the influence of O'Rourke is present, but takes second place to a more organic, engaging sound where musical conventions are stripped down and re-worked with warmth, passion and some good humour. Spiders (Kidsmoke) is ten minuteslong, but you're disappointed when it finishes. Muzzle of Bees is otherworldy, but engaging and melodic. 'I'm a wheel' recalls Heavy Metal Drummer from YHF and 'the late greats' mixes Neil Young & Crazy Horse's 'Home grown' with Tweedy's experimental vision. You would even forgive them for the 12 minutes of drone contained within 'Less than you think' such is the power of this record.
It's many years since I listened to a record for the first time and knew I'd got a hold of a classic. 'A ghost is born' lifts the spirits and should be used by all right thinking parents to turn their kids on to something genuinely inspiring. Five stars, no question, probably one of the best ten records I've ever heard.
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