The Whitmore Sisters
Ghost Stories
Red House Records
Okay, I ain’t gonna lie. I straight up lost my shit. It was the summer of 2020. The fear-fueled apocalypse was still in its infancy, yet, those “three weeks” already were dragging on, flattening souls far and wide. It was probably June-ish when a particular super-ace publicist sent me an advance promo copy of an upcoming music release.
Truth be told, Bonnie Whitmore’s album Last Will & Testament was one of the most magical and moving records I’d heard in a very long time—and it found me precisely at the time I needed to be found. Simply put, Bonnie’s record thwacked me instantly. Before even finishing the first spin, I’d emailed the aforementioned ace publicist to thank her for sending me what surely was going to nab my 2020 “Record of the Year” honors.
As I spun the disc for perhaps the 40th time, it occurred to me that the only way a record could be any more satisfying personally would be if Austin-based Bonnie and her LA-based sister Eleanor (who provided backing vocals on Last Will) teamed up to record a record, together.
During the recent holiday season, the (once again) aforementioned ace publicist sent me yet another advance copy of an upcoming music release: Ghost Stories by, you guessed it, the Whitmore Sisters. Fortunately, at my age, I already was wearing Depends when I popped the disc into my hi-fi deck, punched “PLAY” and promptly peed my pants. That first spin resulted in what us faith weirdos refer to as a “Thank you, Jesus” experience. And yes, I reached out to that publicist (again) to thank her, immediately.
These days, “Americana” is an oft-used term for “new country,” because, tragically, anymore, the term “new country” brings to mind too many notions of the synthetic, soulless Kool-Aid mandated by CMT. And let’s face it, what self-respecting authentic “roots” artist wants to be associated stylistically with Kane Brown? But I digress. So, “Americana,” it is.
Produced to perfection by Eleanor’s husband and longtime musical partner, Chris Masterson, Ghost Stories delivers in spades, especially for those of us who grew up listening to, and inspired by, the musical firm of Parton, Harris, and Ronstadt.
The 11-track collection includes nine sparkly original compos, along with two shiny cover tunes: Aaron Lee Tasjan’s “Big Heart Sick Mind” and the Paul McCartney-penned “On the Wings of a Nightingale.” While the sassy-sounding “The Ballad of Sissy & Porter” and the poignant ballad “Superficial World of Love” rank among the many highlights, it just might be Tasjan’s transparent and snappy confessional “Big Heart Sick Mind” that takes home the record’s MVP award.
In sum, Ghost Stories: Vocals so tight. Fiddles so sweet. Harmonies so irresistible. Tales so engaging. THE Americana-must of 2022. Plus, it’s available on fabulous white and purple marble vinyl. Dig, if you will.
