From the first few notes of Ghost Town Jenny’s Golden Hour, you practically already know the tale being told in its first track, “Suwanee.” It is a tale of a probable encounter with some sort of spiritual advisor, broken hearts, and running away from places you no longer feel connected to. The “ghost town” moniker suits the band well, as the music evokes images of sunsets of California deserts with its folk influences. Throughout, it is reminiscent of the sound cultivated in the near mythical Laurel Canyon in the ‘70s. That’s not to say that Ghost Town Jenny’s sound is just uninspired derivatives. Golden Hour is partially awash in that California sunshine but more so it embraces moodiness through songwriter and vocalist Kim Kylland’s lyrics. Below, Kim shares some of her (and the rest of the band’s) favorite things. Make sure to check out the lovely Golden Hour EP stream as well.
1. Jay Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail
This record is incredible… the beats, the rhymes… I cannot stop listening to it. This song in particular is a favorite of mine because of the contrast between Justin Timberlake’s pop vocal and the heavy beat that drops in after the opening chorus.
2. Baby Sloths
We in Ghost Town Jenny really like baby sloths. It’s something the whole band can agree on. Corey and I in particular almost scream when we watch this video.
3. Frank Sinatra vinyl
I have always loved Frank Sinatra, and I recently inherited my father’s Vinyl collection which had a ton of Sinatra. There is something about this man’s voice… it’s epic, sad, hopeful. He really pulls you in when he croons, and the horn section in his music is commanding and uplifting in ways that I can hardly explain.
4. Mountain View Cemetery
This place is very near to where we live, and it’s massive. You can walk for hours here and never see the same stone twice. The cemetery dates back to the 1860s and was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect behind New York’s Central Park. After a few hours of walking in here, I always feel like I’ve been transported back in time. The landscape becomes very steep as you head toward the back, and lofty millionaires row is a great place to catch a sunset, as you get a really nice view over the San Francisco Bay. There are also deer and wild turkey who roam the grounds, which just adds to the Alice in Wonderland feeling one gets while exploring this place.
5. Playing the Ukulele
(Roy Smeck is a favorite player of mine… this video gets pretty amazing around 0:32…)
I have been playing the ukulele for years, but have recently fallen back in love with it since I began teaching the instrument at a local music school. It really is a sweet, relaxing thing, and appeals to both kids and adults. I read that George Harrison used to have the trunk of his car filled with ukuleles and he would give them to almost anyone he met. What an amazing idea.
