Words by Jim
Label: Paper Bag Records/ Bella Union

Writing album reviews is hard. I don’t envy music critics in the slightest and I’m more than all right letting the professionals really talk about the best albums out there. Even the albums I love the most and touch me in the deepest parts of my insides can pretty much be summed up with “Oh man, I love this part…this part is amazing” or “Did you hear that? The way he does that with the guitar? It’s incredible!” or my personal go-to “Wait wait wait…my favorite part…right here…yeahh”. Unfortunately I can’t copy and paste those phrases into a document with a picture of an album and a rating at the bottom that says “Four out of five Crabby Patties for Spongebob Squarepants!” and get away with it. It just doesn’t work like that even if our brains and hearts do.

The Acorn / Cobbled From Dust
The Acorn / Misplaced
The Acorn / On The Line

Some of the most beautiful things can’t be put into words, but they probably should be. Now I personally struggle with album reviews because I belabor them and over-analyze – and that’s on albums that I really like. I can’t even imagine what it takes to write an album review that’s mediocre or less than that. That has to be some painful stuff and I applaud the people at Pitchfork for doing it so often and willingly. So when you see an album review from this guy, you know the album really had to pull apart something inside of him to put it all on paper (and it might be better if he hadn’t of tried, but oh well). And that’s where we get to No Ghost by The Acorn. They got me. Those Canadians got me.

I wasn’t familiar with The Acorn before getting my hands on this album and even now, I feel like we’re strangers. They have a few prior releases, one in particular entitled Glory Hope Mountain that I’ve heard amazing things about, but just haven’t had the chance to find yet. That’s ok. I’m content with their latest release, No Ghost . It’s one of those rare albums from a rare band that has a little bit of everything. That flirts with every passion in your heart. That says “ Hey guy, listen to this, you’re gonna like this, but in a five minutes, you’re gonna like that even better”. My initial listen to No Ghost brought these award winning words to my mouth: “Holy shit”. Yup. I’m a professional.

The album opens with “Cobbled from Dust” and the sounds of feedbacky guitars, nylon string plucked guitar, and the calm but strangely off-putting voice of Rolf Klausener. Now I say off putting because the sound of his voice contains a strange edge to it. Like when your dad used to get mad at you for throwing spaghetti on the floor but would try and talk to you in a calm voice. Like Klausener is pitched forward on the edge of cliff. He retains this edgy calm throughout the album and I can really really dig it. The opening track does a hell of a job reeling the listener in and by the time the 2:45 mark comes along, I’m tapping my feet and totally surrounded by soaring falsetto, pounded piano keys, and heavy percussion. Wobbling feedback from strummed guitars pass right between my ears.

This album has some extremely strong indie rock tunes. Unique and interesting, these guys demonstrate their ability to write good songs, but also to record their songs in a superior fashion. Maybe I should be thanking the sound engineer and producer (Thanks guys!). Clicking drumsticks and pinch harmonics ring through the mix on “Restoration”. This theme permeates the entire album – “Listen close, ‘cause you might miss it, but if you catch it, you’re gonna be impressed”. Now I wouldn’t fault the listener for missing a pinch harmonic. They’re probably too busy drumming on the steering wheel and singing along with the big lush chorus that inhabit the louder songs on the album. “I Made the Law” begins with a conservative palm muted acoustic progression – “I made the law/ from half the truth/ and kept my mouth/ from kissing you”. There goes that false calm I talked about earlier. He’s mad. Something’s happened. You don’t know what it is until electric guitars on reserve cozy up to Klausener’s melody. You know they’re about to unleash some serious heat here in a minute. And they deliver. I can appreciate the emotion in this song. I’m going to use the word hammer to describe the guitar work here, and I mean they are hammering the shit out of their guitars. Strumming so hard the chords are momentarily out of tune before physics can catch up. I can see it all in my head without any need for lyrics, as the words dropped out to leave the last minute of the song full of wood and metal and electronic dirt until that palm muted acoustic guitar saunters in to sweep up the mess. He’s got a lot of work to do because it all comes crashing down again on “No Ghost” and “Crossed Wires” further down the playlist.

I love the harder songs on this album. I think they really shine and I think The Acorn can really pull that off. They have the chops and the confidence to do so and it definitely works. But in my opinion, the highlights of this album are the slower, more reserved songs. A song like “Misplaced” really shows off the creativity and artistry going on in these guys’ heads. It’s a wide-open song…like I could drive a truck through the space and it’s simply stunning. Atypical percussion is paired with dreamy echo-effected guitar lines. I think I heard a marimba in there. Klausener’s double tracked (or backed) vocals are gorgeous with a chorus that states on pins and needles “I know/ I know / I know…I won’t be misplaced.” A delicate melodica lets you know he’s serious and he’s sad. Similarly, “On the Line” begins with a vocal falsetto that’s almost a bit too high for a mortal man to reach. They strain. They pull their vocal chords out of place. It’s gorgeous. The arrangements are allowed to grow and evolve, but I find the focal point remains on the vocals. A brushed snare drum sounds like it’s a mile away. A passing cello melody is so far down in the mix you can barely taste it, but you know it’s there. Its warmth radiates outwards. This song is 2:15 second of pure beauty. They could play the same progression for ten minutes and I’d still want more. Instead, we just catch a fleeting glimpse and it’s terrific.

Now I’ve done some research and everyone seems to be saying that this album isn’t as good as The Acorns predecessors, especially Glory Hope Mountain . F that. Don’t compare and contrast albums. I’m a case study right here. I don’t know a damn thing about their earlier releases and someday they may blow my mind into tiny little bits, but in this moment, in this room, coming out of these speakers is an undeniably good album that has so many strong points – beautiful melodies, interesting percussion, great guitar work, and an emotional charge that’s contagious. And so many good songs! I find myself humming and even yearning for them. I yearn. Yeah. It’s weird. Several times this week I’ve gotten into my car and immediately put on “On the Line” or the horn trimmed “Bobcat Goldwraith” without a second thought. Is that yearning? Until someone tells me otherwise, damn straight it is.

The album closes on the strangely titled “Kindling to Cremation”. “My ears are ringing/ I wasn’t sure if you had it in you/ It’s a flat sky/ There’s no shadows and I can hear the wrinkles whisper in your dress”. Little gems like this make me realize that behind all the superb instrumentation are some seriously fragile lyrics waiting to conjure images in my head. There’s a lot to digest here, kids. You better get started because I’m way ahead of you with no end in site. Klausener teases me “This is how you pass the time away” and I’m more than ok with that.

I do declare 17 out of 19 strong cups of coffee on a Friday morning. We can do this together! I know I won’t be misplaced either.

Pre-order the vinyl release @ Insound. The album was digitally released June 1 with a limited physical release in Canada. Bella Union is getting us American kids the good stuff Septmeber 7.
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Filed under: Album Reviews