John Laprade’s “Giving up the Ghost” is a rousing and poignant piece of emotionally resonant and beautifully crafted pop/country/rock music. The Nashville recording artist’s latest release explores the end of a relationship, this time between Laprade and his former home of New York City. The songs on the record are filled with heartfelt lyrics, soaring guitars, and luscious vocal harmonies, all brought together by Chris Cubeta’s expert production at Studio G in Brooklyn. I’ve always found art about spaces, about places and moments in time to be some of the most immediately resonant pieces. ‘Giving Up The Ghost’ is no different. Laprade has a way of expressiveness that sets him apart majestically. There’s an effortlessness to each track, an incredibly easy going approach that Laprade takes that makes each song such an earworm to listen to.
From the cinematic chorus that hits you on the first piece, ‘Landlocked Lighthouse’, to the cathartic ballad that concludes the record on ‘Cardboard Boxes’, each piece fills you with so much. To anyone who has ever left a city that means so much to them, this is a break up record to help you reminisce and move forward all at once.
It’s hard to say goodbye to the streets and neighborhoods that have become so familiar, as well as the people and places that have played a significant role in your life. It can be difficult to let go of the memories and experiences that have shaped you and made you who you are. It takes courage to start anew in a new place, but it can also be a chance for growth and new beginnings. It’s important to hold onto the good memories and carry them with you as you embark on this new journey. Giving Up The Ghost makes this entire journey that much more manageable.