The Acorn

No Ghost

(Bella Union)

Record Review by Kevan Peterson

Canadian rockers The Acorn return with No Ghost.   If the old saying is true and the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree, then this band has its roots firmly planted in a rich soil of talented musical influences.  Launching off with “Cobbled From Dust,” the band sounds a bit like their English counterparts, Gomez, mixed with a splash of Wilco. 

The band slips into second gear and slows things down on “Restoration,” which uses sparse drums countered with a sprightly played guitar.  Then they slip into first gear and come to a near halt with the slow-moving, moody “Misplaced.”  The band stays mostly in the lower registers as it churns out a mixed bag of hopeful insightful lyrics and emotional baggage. 

Other stand out tracks include “On The Line,” which is reminiscent of a campfire melody, where you can almost hear the kerosene lamp burning the night away, and “Kindling To Cremation,” which caps the album.  Overall, No Ghost, is a strong album from an accomplished band, even if they are a bit nutty.