Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Dutch "Alt Country Forum" Review - Translated

Ghost Towns received a nice write-up from Dutch blog AltCountryForum, and you can read the entire piece (if you can read Dutch, that is) right here. If you are like me, and don't know that fine language, you are in luck, because my Belgian friend Shanna translated it for me:

"After a couple of successful solo albums, which were released between 2006 and 2008, with heartbreaking songs in the acoustic modern folk genre, the American singer songwriter John Statz approached a couple of musicians to accompany him on his new album. Inspired by run down, war-damaged cities in the Balkans and dying, disintegrating American cities is “Ghost Towns”, the brand new album of John Statz. It is the result of years of intensive touring through the US, Canada and Europe. The album consists of a collection of beautiful songs, regularly completed with the wonderful harmonic vocals of his supporting band. They also make excellent use of electric en acoustic guitars, banjo, mandolin, bass and violin.

Fans of Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Neil Young & Crazy Horse and Drive-by Truckers will appreciate the strumming roots rock and typical alternative country and folksongs. Beautiful, lingering music which never feels affected. On “Ghost Towns” John combines raw, exciting songs which drown in electric guitars (Best Girl and Ghost Towns), the sparkling west coast sound (Jackson Hole and Come Down), with songs which are only accompanied by acoustic guitar (Julija and Night Train to Sarajevo). “Ghost Towns” is an album which stands out because of the strong songs, musical firework, enjoyable voices and a recognizable sound."