SnowGhost Music

In one of my last album roundups of 2007, I ordered 3 relatively new CDs that I hadn’t heard a single song from. Two of them were new releases from artists I’d already heard, and the third was an action taken solely on a recommendation from a friend. He said it was the best album he had heard all year, and he thought I would be into it. Turns out my friend was absolutely right. In fact, the second track from this great album turned out to be THE GREATEST TRACK OF 2007.

And unlike the thrilling climax of a beauty pageant, we must not first deal with the first and second runners up. I wish I could say that I spent an entire year listening to music, creating a mental chart that saw change and upheaval as I introduced the new and saw through the old. I also wish I could say that I was a professional music reviewer with a PO box the size of cargo van (which I do have), stuffed with promo CDs, or that I heard every good song of 2007, or even 27% of them. Alas, despite my unlimited love of music and unlimited depths of critical opinions, I have limited funds and limited time, so I’m not even going to bother with honorable almost or ties for second. Winning is everything, and who wants to hear about the second greatest track of 2007 when you can just skip to THE GREATEST TRACK OF 2007 (that I happened to hear).

“Welcome Home” by Radical Face, from the Album Ghost, is THE GREA… is a damn good song. I have probably played it over a hundred times. Just like good motor oil, you must test great songs to see if they keep your engine running after thousands of miles. I put on my lab coat and safety goggles and I concluded that I am still just as pumped to hear the distant blowing wind type of sound introduce the acoustic guitar rhythm that gives way to the vocal refrain that hums the melody as I was when I first understood that I would be addicted to this song.

I would also like to add that the entire album by Ben Cooper, the man responsible for almost all of the sounds on Ghost, is damn near a masterpiece. It’s a very cohesive collection of songs that tell stories with a similar thread. Maybe it’s a concept album, but don’t let that scare you away. You can tell that each song is welcome and properly placed. Even the songs that weren’t immediately effective develop their place within the lineup, like the trusty utility infielder who can be counted on for the occasional pinch hit or run in the clutch. Whereas some critically celebrated home-recorded records, like Grizzly Bear’s Yellow House, are indeed interesting and moody, Ghost is actually accessible and catchy at the same time. You don’t have to pretend you like or understand anything going on here. And you certainly don’t have to skip tracks.

But for the sake of time, we will simply skip to track 2 for a little bio of our newly-crowned song, and I’ll tell you why I think it’s such a great tune. First, the aforementioned intro sets the stage. The preceding track is in itself an intro, but “Welcome Home” has its own little start up. Each element gets a little warm up before the vocal melody lassos everything together and gets the song moving. The first verse then arrives as space is temporarily cleared for the takeoff. The vocals are hushed but completely intelligible, and the initial rhythm is the only constant. As the song races into the chorus, which is simply the words of the song title sung melodically and irresistibly, the theme is set and easily understood.

And while there is a definite song structure that offers a verse and chorus and a bridge-like conclusion, it still leaves room for complexity as different elements of sound are introduced and reintroduced. It backs off, it builds, it breathes, it lives. And most importantly, it climaxes. Some songs make you want to hear them again because they are painfully short and beautiful. After you hit repeat 30 times, you start to realize that there is a reason the song is so short. But this song is the perfect four to five minute tour. There is no repetition or nuance that you won’t appreciate. And you will want to hear it again. Maybe even a hundred more times.