Album Review – Kelsey Waldon’s “Every Ghost”

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“Outlaw Country” (#580) and “Hard Country” (#510.3) on the Country DDS.

The pride of Monkey’s Eyebrow, Kentucky, and a certified Kentucky Colonel, you don’t get much more Kentucky or much more country than Kelsey Waldon, down to the Bill Monroe tilt of her hat. Uncompromising as she is genuine, Waldon has always leaned into her Kentucky roots, and made music her way. But it’s never been more her way than on her new album Every Ghost that she produced herself.

Kelsey Waldon has also never been more Outlaw in tone and texture. From grooving in half time, to the pounding bass drum and 2-tone bass guitar lines, this album puts you right back in the bell bottom ’70s in the best of ways. Instead of recording with studio musicians, she chose to go with her own touring backing band, The Muleskinners. That road-tested, groove-worn sound comes through in the results, leaving you wanting much more after the ninth track.

“I’ve been 1,000 women in my own time,” Waldon sings in the opening moments of the album, later referring to these women as her “ghosts.” Though she’s proud of every iteration of her previous self, the one she’s landed on right here, right now is the one that is responsible for assembling what might be the most engaging and entertaining album of her career. It seems like we say this about every Kelsey Waldon album though, as she only continues to refine herself and discover her true sound.

Waldon is on an intentional journey of self-improvement, which includes getting sober, growing a garden, and reflecting back on the past not with regret or as problems, but as lessons to be learned from. That is one of the reasons why six albums into her career, it feels like Waldon is just now hitting her stride while many performers hit a mid career lull.

Kelsey’s voice has always been an incredible asset, with starkly unique textures imbued with rural authenticity and a delivery as smooth as caramel. But those alluring contours really come to the forefront on Every Ghost. Writing to her vocal strengths, and then arranging the songs to center what she does best, this is the way Waldon is able to put a fresh and unique stamp on a very classic sound.


Waldon’s writing has always been uncommonly involved and thoughtful for country. But on Every Ghost, she’s dialed it back a bit if anything. Instead of trying to wrap enigmas in riddles, she focuses on simply telling relatable and personal stories in song, resulting in a more accessible experience. “Tiger Lilies” is about the flowers bequeathed to Waldon by her grandmother. Though she’s no longer around, the lilies keep her grandmother’s memory alive in the corporal world.

But as opposed to being rendered all sweet and sentimental, “Tiger Lilies” is a hard-charging Outlaw country song, just with a personal aspect to it. The title track of the album feels like its taken directly from a 1975 recording session at Tompall Glaser’s Hillbilly Central studios, including doing lyrical tags on the verses similar to “Waymore’s Blues.” Later songs are more honky tonk in aspect, but everything fits seamlessly behind Kelsey Waldon’s voice and vision.

Country music so often speaks to the common sorrows we face, and the ruts we find ourselves in. In Every Ghost, Kelsey Waldon wants to take her world earned wisdom of waking up each day and trying to improve, and inspire that in her audience. Whether that comes in the character study of the song “Falling Down,” or the ode to the ills of sloth and indecision, “Lost in My Idlin’,” this music has a motivational aspect to it. And then you get to the final song “Ramblin’ Woman,” and it’s just a killer, slow waltz-timed shit kicker.

There might be ample daylight between the popularity of Waldon and her fellow Kentucky contemporaries such as Sturgill, Tyler, and Stapleton. But she’s the one that’s kept it the most country as she continues to work to refine herself and her music in pursuit of the more perfect country song.

8.3/10

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Purchase/stream Every Ghost



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