Ghost Ship - Costly (2015)

Very few bands have struck me the way Ghost Ship did with their debut The Good King. The production was minimalist to a fault, their Americana stylings meshed in a weird but good way with their indie rock base, and the lyrics struck me as oddly theologically rooted. I liked, but couldn't love.

Now, two years after their debut, Ghost Ship is back to prove that their debut's success wasn't a fluke with their sophomore effort, Costly.

Right away, I can tell that the production quality has greatly improved. While I usually consider this a flaw for folksier music like this, for Ghost Ship it works because of their odd style mash-up of indie rock and Americana. I felt like The Good King was very weighted throughout because of its hollow production that focused my ears on the lyrics too much. On Costly, not only is the sound blended better, but it's changed quite a bit as well. It's progressed from an indie rock sound with occasional folk elements to something reminiscent of Pearl Jam, Coldplay, and the Lumineers all wrapped up into one.

It may not sound like a mix that works, but it really does. It combines the best of them all: the folksy elements of the Lumineers, the anthemic structure of Coldplay that makes it easy to sing along with the songs, and (on occasion and very subtly) the heftiness of Pearl Jam. The way the album's opener "Invitation" builds is perfect for a live worship service or concert. It also has a very catchy nature that, unlike several tracks from The Good King, doesn't come off as kitschy or campy but very earnest and sincere. Many of Costly's other tracks such as "Adoption," "Scarlet," and "You Loved Us First" retain this same upbeat, positive feel, which really helps bolster the impact and joy of the Gospel message present.

However, it is the album's weightier tracks that truly stand out. "Heavy as the Sea" is one of the best written songs I've heard this year. It gives countless metaphors for God's love for us in poetic ways that draw out more emotion than most songs with a similar theme, while it's music is anthemic and singable, making it a good fit for a worship service. The midpoint pairing of "Peace" and "Provide" are poetic and beautiful, bringing back a purer folk sound for a little change of pace. Their lyrics are perfect. Yes, perfect. The album's closer "Hesed" is also beautifully crafted, combining meaningful lyrics with atmospheric swells and well-produced vocals.

Costly's one misstep is the inclusion of a re-imagined "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." Many of the Mars Hill bands have successfully rehashed classic hymns that the church knows and loves, in particular the folks over at Kings Kaleidoscope. However, "When I Survey..." lacks the sheer originality the others had but also doesn't strip the music down to a reverential point. When you're re-arranging hymns, these are generally the two approaches that work. Unfortunately, Ghost Ship fails to produce anything as memorable as their arrangement of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" from their debut here.

That being said, as the album's only misstep, it's nowhere near major. Costly is a very good album, let alone for the Christian music world. Its unique musical stylings combined with some of the year's best lyrics to date make it very memorable. If more Christian music was this good, I'd listen to and review it more often.

Rating: 4.5/5

Recommended tracks: "Scarlet," "Heavy as the Sea," "Peace," Provide," "Hesed"

Purchase links: iTunes, Amazon