Ron Lewis - Guitars, Vocals, Pianos, Electric Pianos, Synths, Bass, Drums, Slide Whistles, Melodicas, Tascam TSR-8, Quantegy 1/2" Tape Compression, Drums, Percussion, Scissors, Wine Glasses, Cymbals, Recording
Jonathan Rothman - Guitars, Vocals, Pianos, Synths, Melodicas
Jamie Henkensiefken - Bass, Vocals
Adam Fream - Drums, Percussion
Ghost Stories is the musical brainchild of Ron Lewis, a bedroom recordist steeped in haunting lo-fi folk, found-sound ambience and epic psych-pop grandeur. Quixoticism,
Ghost Stories’ debut, unfolds like a passive-aggressive psych-rock opera.
With years under his belt playing virtually every musical position on the field with the Fruit Bats, the Joggers, Colin Meloy and with members of the Dismemberment Plan, a creation of Lewis’ own seems justifiably due—resulting in an album which remains faithful to Lewis’ resume, but steps forward with an alpha gesture that is anything but supplementary.
Though some of the songs themselves date back seven years, Quixoticism and it’s progression to tape began in the summer of 2004 with an empty house and an 8-track tape machine. Lewis played and recorded everything at home, enlisting the help of Zack Reinig for the drum sounds.
Lewis’ relationship with the recording process gleams of hi-fi ambition beneath a lo-fi veneer, ripe with rich star-shine vocal harmonies, undulating transitions and bubbling psych explosions. “You Wear It Like Stained Glass Window” merges feral banshee guitars and spectral howls that reflect the volatile nature of knowing another person inside and out, be that good or bad. “Even a Vampire Wouldn’t Drink My Blood,” an anxious anthem to self-deprecation, shrugs off any residual melancholy with arena rock guitars and a cappella choral builds. This is a perfect conclusion to an album that embodies universal tribulations of finding, losing, or extricating oneself from love.
Under the Radar - Matt Fink
An indie rock veteran- having done stints with the Fruit Bats and the Joggers, among others, - Ron Lewis sounds like he's making up for lost time with his debut record under the Ghost Stories Moniker. A wispy collection of psychedelic lo-fi and power pop. Quixoticism draws on a constantly shifting palette of sighing melodies, multi-tracked vocals, thundering drums, and pianos to create an album that nearly reaches its lofty ambitions. 7 blips out of 10
Baby Sue
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. (Rating: 5++++) (see link below for full review)
Silent Uproar - 4.3 out of 5
Former Fruit Bats, Joggers and Dismemberment Plan collaborator Ron Lewis effortlessly establishes himself as a burgeoning songwriting force with Quixoticism, under the moniker of Ghost Stories. The record flitters between buoyant, transcendent indie pop, eerie lo-fi folk and everything in between, making use of psychedelic-tinged guitars, frail vocals and spacy elements at times. Lewis set the songs to tape in his house over the past couple of years. Suffice to say, it could soon be a bedroom classic. David
The Stranger - Kurt B. Reighley
..."if the devil is in the details, Lewis is Beelzebub incarnate. Surrender to him, now."
Smother.com
Ghost Stories is Ron Lewis’ brainchild. He tackles the apartment rock lo-fi recording style with gusto and a severe knack for bravado. Arming himself with dynamic choruses, whirling pop melodies, and fantastically stripped down song structures, Ghost Stories manages to be at the crux of what every wannabe studio engineer should strive towards. Infectious hooks whose elaborate cleverness is keen and deft yet subtle comprise just a few of the pieces to the “Quixoticism” puzzle.
J-Sin
Punk Planet
Ghost Stories is the brainchild solo project of Ron Lewis, a man who sits in his metaphorical bedroom with an actual eight track, whistling, clapping, and strumming into his mics (to be fair, he's also pinch hit on tours for the Fruit Bats, the Joggers, Colin Meloy and D-Plan; this is hardly an off-the-cuff affair). These songs, some of which were recorded seven years ago, include sweet freakouts, bubbly sounds, and windy vortex, plus one bit that sounds like fireflies in late July. Quixoticism has the best from both emotional poles, as it's warm without goofiness, and mystic without monochrome. See also: fabulous song titles, like "the Pink Princess Eskimonia" and "Even a Vampire Wouldn't Drink My Blood". And it's always good to support Sonic Boom, one of Seattle's best record stores and fledgelingest labels. - Mairead Case
