Old Abram Brown’s follow-up to their 2009 debut Alive in Winter is a tight collection of nine songs ranging from the somber and introspective to the optimistic and celebratory. With the addition of guitarist Eric Bolton, the band has amplified the fullness already present in their previous work; jangling, atmospheric guitars guide the songs, facilitating the often epic, spacious trajectories of songs like “Your House on the Hill”, the single “Tides”, and the adamant “Novelty Prize”. But rather than drowning under the weight and scope, the songs retain a poppy immediacy indebted to frontman Carson Lund’s towering melodies and poetic lyrics, bassist/pianist Dylan Vukelich’s eerie harmonies, and Erik Lund’s understated and grandiose drum work. Nowhere is this more evident than in the versatility of ballads like “Little Feet” and “I’m Not Happy”, perhaps the most melodic, soulful tracks on the record, and also ones that - with the addition of an acoustic guitar and a triumphant horn section - demonstrate Old Abram Brown’s instrumental flexibility. As dynamic as it is nuanced, Restless Ghosts provides something for both adventurous listeners and those with a more pop sensibility. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.