Ghost
Kate Rusby · 2014
59 min · 12 tracks · folk music
A haunting blend of traditional folk melodies and contemporary storytelling that evokes deep emotional landscapes.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Outlandish Knight — This track opens the album with a vibrant retelling of a classic tale, showcasing Rusby's ability to breathe life into age-old narratives through her emotive vocal delivery.
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The Youthful Boy — A poignant reflection on innocence and loss, this song highlights Rusby's talent for storytelling, intertwining personal and universal themes in a strikingly beautiful way.
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I Am Sad — The deep emotional resonance of this track illustrates Rusby's skill in conveying complex feelings through simple yet evocative lyrics and haunting melodies.
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Ghost — As the title track, it encapsulates the album's overall theme of memory and longing, featuring intricate instrumentation that enhances its ethereal quality.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends traditional and contemporary elements effectively but remains within familiar folk structures.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a traditional ballad, setting a narrative tone that persists throughout the tracklist.
- Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies, particularly in the choruses, enhancing the emotional weight of the lyrics.
- The instrumentation varies from solo acoustic guitar to fuller arrangements with strings and woodwinds, creating dynamic shifts in mood.
- The final track, 'Ghost', serves as a reflective conclusion, contrasting with the more upbeat songs earlier in the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- haunting melodies for quiet moments
- evocative storytelling on reflective nights
- gentle pacing for cozy evenings
- sing-along charm with friends
- nostalgic tunes for rainy days
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy party vibes
- prefer instant gratification tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time 'Ghost' was released in 2014, Kate Rusby had already established herself as a prominent figure in the British folk scene, with several acclaimed albums to her name. This album followed her previous successful release, 'Sweet Bells', and showcased her artistic growth as she continued to explore new themes while honoring folk traditions.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Laura Marling· Sophie Hunger· Nina Nastasia
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Outlandish Knight 4:56
- 2 The Youthful Boy 5:43
- 3 We Will Sing 4:11
- 4 Bonnie Bairns 5:43
- 5 Three Jolly Fishermen 3:39
- 6 I Am Sad 5:06
- 7 Martin Said 4:17
- 8 After This 4:50
- 9 The Magic Penny 4:49
- 10 The Night Visit 5:42
- 11 Silly Old Man 5:08
- 12 Ghost 5:48
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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