Josh Carples: Ghost of a Town

  The hallmark of any Josh Carples song is uniqueness. Whether he's flying solo with a guitar or working as part of an ensemble, the music, the lyrical content and his voice are uniquely his. A great bonus when he takes a solitary approach to developing songs is he fully explores and embraces his role as a storyteller. And these endearing characteristics of Carples' songwriting, musicianship and delivery continue to evolve on the album "Ghost of a Town," which he also self-produced.

  Carples' storytelling prowess continues to grow on this collection of eight new songs, a gift present on his two previous solo releases, "Note from the Georgian Hotel" and "The Final Scene." In the spirit of Kris Kristofferson or John Prine but with a sound and delivery that are exclusively his own, Carples brandishes naked emotion - unapologetic and sincere.

     You are a string of broken promises.

     Your actions scream your whispered best.

     And I am the backer of this tragedy

     While you hide the sins you can’t confess.

  But merely sharing stories through music wouldn't resonate much without a potent vessel. Carples' voice is invariably pleasing and he boasts a laudable range. Keen to explore various types of instrumentation, Carples brandishes a violin, trumpet, piano and organ, acoustic and electric guitar and of course his trademark voice on "Ghost of a Town."

  And Josh Carples isn't struggling to prompt toe-tapping or knee-jerk sing-alongs. This is art, but unlike many artists who seem handicapped by a self-inflicted desperation to impress or wow the ear with vapid flashiness, Carples simply expresses himself soulfully and honestly through his words, musicianship and voice and simply lets it all ride without apology.

  "Ghost of a Town" will be officially released October 10, capped by a debut of the new material at the Jubilee Community Center (432 South Goldthwaite Street, Montgomery), sponsored by Helicity Montgomery, Thursday, October 10 at 6 pm - $5 cover charge.

  Tomorrow's show will launch Carples' tour in support of "Ghost of a Town," which will include stops throughout Alabama as well as Georgia and Tennessee. For a complete listing of dates and to view the Adam Riggs-produced video for the title track, "Ghost of a Town," which also features Janna Flurry Hall, visit Josh Carples on Facebook. The video was filmed in Wetumpka and Prattville.

  Josh Carples' "Ghost of a Town" will be available beginning tomorrow at RAD! Vinyl Records and More (3368 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery) and online through iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and Carples' Bandcamp page.

  About the author: Joseph O. Patton is the editor-in-chief and founder of the Capital City Free Press. He is a former news editor for the Coosa County News, lead reporter for the Montgomery Independent and editor-in-chief of the AUMnibus, the student newspaper of Auburn-Montgomery. Patton is also the creator of and writer for the satirical news radio segment "Goat Hill Gossip," which previously aired on WAUD in Auburn, Alabama and has appeared on several Central Alabama radio programs as a political analyst.

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