Album Review: Ghost in the Willow – Still Here

Like it or not, the pandemic lives on in the subconscious, even as the day-to-day hardships recede into the past. I wonder if that plays a part in the thoughtful rock and roll of Still Here.

Phoenix, Arizona quintet Ghost in the Willow expands to a nine-piece for gigs, and I imagine that Still Here will be even more impressive there than it is on record. Gil Rodriguez and his band look to a very American take on punk, less abrasive than the British variety, placing greater importance on melody but also having lyrics that have something emotional and important to share.

The band has spoken about how they have ‘weathered personal loss, major health crises, and line-up evolutions’ since their first album, but they wear the weight of history lightly on Still Here. Even on Flick of the Wrist, while the pain of loss haunts the lyrics, the song marries that to a heck of a melody, powerful and driving.

That presence of the past, changing times and life-changing experiences – and changes in band members – plays a part in the present, as the tracks often incorporate brass in the style of third-wave ska and some Celtic punk in the violin, but every song is rock and roll to the max.

The title track, Still Here, tugs at the heartstrings, with lyrics full of happy memories mixed with fears of phone calls in the present, knowing that some things can’t be escaped, now or then. Here and throughout the LP, the words often hit hard. Even in upbeat moments like Self Control, you can’t help but feel that the memories of the past intrude on the present, as the song talks of putting a bandage over loneliness.

Paul Westerberg pays homage to the iconic member of The Replacements, and as the song fades out, you can hear echoes of that band’s sound, rock with an indefinable skew to it, not seeking favour, putting itself out for you to like or not.

The spirit of Westerberg makes itself known again in the touching tones of My Dad & I, the vocals documenting an attempt to connect with a loved one. It got me thinking of my own father, how I miss him and how much I would like the opportunity to have one more conversation about small things.

Still Here does have its lighter moments, like the cover of Then He Kissed Me, keeping faithful to not just the lyrics but also the chaste euphoria of the original. But, as often occurs in the album, the vocals make you think that this is someone looking backwards, memories rising and falling in the narrator’s consciousness, hurt being unbound.

If you’ve lived your life with music as its soundtrack, then this is an album you will cherish. The stories on Still Here are obviously very personal, but like all good artists and bands, Ghost in the Willow know how to tap into the universality of life experiences.

Still Here was released on the 6th of March, and can be picked up in vinyl, cassette, and 8-track (!) on Bandcamp. The album is also streaming on Spotify and YouTube Music.

Ghost in the Willow play three gigs in the Pacific North West in the next few days: Portland, Seattle, and Tacoma on the 12th, 13th, and 14th of March, respectively. For ticket info, head to the band’s Instagram and Facebook feeds.