Review: Ghost Hounds – Almost Home
Ghost Hounds – Almost Home
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: Gibson Records
Release: 2025
Text: Andy Trachsel
It was in 2022 during a Rolling Stones concert in Amsterdam when I heard the Ghost Hounds live for the first time. Rumour has it they are in some way related to Mick Jagger and had the honour to be the support act. So I was biased when I got their new album. Some songs sound indeed like a modern version of the Stones with a slight flavour of the Black Crowes, but most of the songs are some kind of Southern rock or plain country.
The first track She Runs Hot opens with a cowbell and a Keith like muted chord. The Fender guitars of Tyler Chiarelli and Thomas Tull are the foundation. The vocals of the singer called SAVNT are strong. In the next track Past The Point Of Rescue he shows his sensitive voice. This could be a Charlie Daniels song because of the violin fill-ins. Down In The Dark and Long Way Around are straight country rockers with a bluesy feeling. Both radio friendly.
You’ll Never Find Me is more interesting. Starting with a swelling guitar, slide and a very exciting chord progression, which makes me think of When Dolphins Cry from the band Live.
With Broken Roses the Stones riffs are back. Well the production is more smooth, but if you close your eyes you can imagine Woody and Richards battling on the guitar. Eugene’s Trick Bag is a short instrumental intermezzo starting with a bombastic intro and featuring Kirsten Weber on classical violin.
I really like Before You Leave featuring Lainey Wilson on second vocal. She has a traditional country voice like Dolly Parton, A nice round composition. House A Home is a song about envisioning a family life. Maybe inspired by previous singer Tré Nation who left the band to have a life beyond the rat race of success.
Lonely Last Night is a country walz with a Nashville arrangement and commercial chord modulation. A song just right for the Grand Ole Opry. Long Ride Home with SAVNT singing in the higher range ends the album. It’s for sure country music with back up vocal of Patty Griffin.
Long story short, ‘Almost Home’ is an album featuring singer SAVNT and his vocal range. And are they almost home as a band? The future will tell.
Tracks:
01. She Runs Hot
02. Past The Point Of Rescue
03. Down In The Dark
04. Long Way Around
05. You’ll Never Find Me
06. Broken Roses
07. Eugene’s Trick Bag (feat. Kristin Weber) – Fiddle Version
08. Before You Leave (feat. Lainey Wilson)
09. House A Home
10. Lonely Last Night
11. Long Ride Home
Website: https://www.ghosthounds.com/