Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Album review: "Ghost on the Canvas" by Glen Campbell

I just finished Glen Campbell's new album, "Ghost on the Canvas" now I am not a country fan and I would not have never bought the album had it not been for two factors. One, it was recommend to me by a good friend and two the back story behind the album. I will tell you about the second, Ghost on the Canvas is intended to be his farewell album due to his diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. In light of this the songs take on a gravity given the southern wordsmith wrote them as a goodbye and in light of the disease that will take him before he is gone.

His Faith
I am often very cynical when it comes to public professions of faith by celebrities, maybe to my own shame yet Campbell is the real deal.
Campbell made public his commitment to Christianity nearly 20 years ago. Since, he has evidenced persevering grace and been something of a picture of what Jesus can do with a strung out country singer. In his autobiography, Rhinestone Cowboy, (yep, he wrote that song) Campbell chronicles his life and its near-destruction. He tells the gritty and hard facts of his decent into alcoholism and drugs and of his convention to Christianity. Looking into it, I found out He is an active member in his home church, North Phoenix Baptist Church.

His Music
It is with that back story in mind, I soaked in the melancholy praise of a man world wise but Christ longing. The song vary in content but are never far from a spiritual core. Musically, i was impressed. It is not 70's steel guitars and yodeling. I think it would appeal to hipsters as well as men my dad's age.The interludes between songs weave all the song together into a harmonic whole (reminiscent of the beach boys Pet sounds- I love that album). The lyrics are rich with meaning and almost haunting much like the feeling you get from the whole album. It is a bittersweet goodbye that is purely melancholy yet hope is always just below the surface bubbling up in moment a slow guitar wines and lyrical honesty.

Songs like
"A Better Place"
"It's Your Amazing Grace"
"Hold On Hope"
"Strong"
"There's No Me... Without You"

Give thoughtful and thankful reflections on his condition, his relationships and his past. It is odd to say good by before you really should but Campbell has made this country boy tear with pride at a Christian who knows how to bow out with praise on his lips and most assuredly die well with grace leading the way.




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