Ghost of Paul Revere, affectionately known as "The Boys of Maine" after their 2015 release "Ballad of the 20th of Maine" , released their new album Good at Losing Everything on August 28th, 2020. Good at Losing Everything explores a range of human emotion related to overarching with contrasting themes of loneliness, loss, relationships, and community. The band is made up of Griffin Sherry on guitar and vocals, Max Davis on banjo and vocals, and Sean McCarthy on bass and vocals. They refer to their sound as ‘Holler Folk,’ and have a track record of innovating in both their music and their musical community. The release of their new album was accompanied by an announcement that their Ghostland Festival would be held virtually as Almost Ghostland in 2020. The Ghostland Festival began in Portland, Maine in 2014 as an opportunity for Ghost of Paul Revere to gather like-minded musicians, and have grown organically into a hub for the folk community.
The album artwork on Good At Losing Everything depicts a retro record label with the band’s and album’s names stylized around the center. In contrast to this simple focal point, an explosion of flowers and foliage surround the title piece. Finally, the
negative space in the design is filled with a black, starry sky. This design illustrates the mood of the album: growth, life, and togetherness in a landscape of emptiness. It shows us, the listeners, that this album will be a comfort as we cope through COVID-19.
Likewise, the album invites listeners to laugh, cry, and hope along with the songs’ narrators. The title track, "Good At Losing Everything," features a rolling drumline at a medium tempo that one can hardly help stomping along with. The lyrics are similarly rhythmic, with choir-like backing vocals and dissonant riffs laced with guitar and banjo. It feels as if it draws listeners to sing along and relate to the story of a friend’s untimely funeral. The piece has a clear gospel influence, creating the feeling of a community coming together to face loss and troubling times. However, the track "Delirare" opens with a lone banjo playing a complicated melody. The singer laments the end of a relationship and the accompanying perception of loneliness. A guitar blends with the banjo to create a new sound which is hard to make out as two instruments. As the singer reaches the height of sadness in the slow lyrics, a drumline joins in. All this seems to say that even in the darkest, loneliest times, you’re not alone.
Though Ghost of Paul Revere is a group known by their fans for innovation, there is not much on this album that could be considered ‘new.’ Even with the official addition of Jackson Kincheloe to the band since their last album, the group stuck with their familiar sound consistently throughout most of Good At Losing Everything. Unlike the band’s previous albums, their blues and bluegrass influences can be identified individually, which throws off the balance of their musical identity. Despite this, fans have reacted positively to the release of this album. It’s release has boosted sales of the band’s drive-in style concert series, resulting in sold-out shows regularly throughout Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Hopefully, this is a sign of testing the boundaries of their sound, and preparing for their next album with new tools in their belts. With all the change and chaos in the world surrounding the release of Good At Losing Everything, The Boys of Maine may have even intended to bring us comfort by sticking to a sound we expect.
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