The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
16
new
SPILL NEW MUSIC: FOUNDING BUTCHER BABIES VOCALIST CARLA HARVEY DEBUTS MUSIC VIDEO FOR NEW EP TRACK “HELL OR HOLLYWOOD” FEATURING ZAKK WYLDE
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE – ALIVE IN THE CATACOMBS
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: XOL MEISSNER – EXCESS OF LOSS
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD – PHANTOM ISLAND
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: YAWN – WISH I COULD’VE
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: NORMAN GREENBAUM – SPIRIT IN THE SKY
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: FERNANDO’S EYES – CENTER OF YOUR WORLD
SPILL NEWS: SOCCER MOMMY RELEASES ‘EVERGREEN (STRIPPED)’ EP | GLOBAL TOUR CONTINUES IN AUSTRALIA, ASIA & NORTH AMERICA
SPILL NEWS: BUSH ENTER “THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY” WITH NEW SINGLE AND MUSIC VIDEO RELEASE | TOUR DATES
SPILL NEWS: YUKON BLONDE ANNOUNCE FRIENDSHIP & ROCK ‘N’ ROLL FALL TOUR | TICKETS ON SALE THIS WEEK
SPILL NEW MUSIC: PORTUGAL. THE MAN SURPRISE EP ‘ULU SELECTS VOL #2’ OUT NOW ON KNIK
SPILL NEWS: GEORGIA HARMER ANNOUNCES NEW LP ‘EYE OF THE STORM’ ON ARTS & CRAFTS | SHARES TITLE TRACK & CANADA-USA TOUR DATES
SPILL NEW MUSIC: INDUSTRIAL ROCK ACT 16VOLT’S 1993 DEBUT ‘WISDOM’ LP REISSUED VIA METROPOLIS RECORDS | BRAND NEW ALBUM OUT IN SUMMER 2025
SPILL NEWS: THE DANDY WARHOLS AND KULA SHAKER HIT THE ROAD TOGETHER THIS FALL
SPILL NEW MUSIC: MANTRA OF THE COSMOS TEAM UP WITH NOEL GALLAGHER FOR NEW SINGLE “DOMINO BONES (GETS DANGEROUS)”
SPILL NEWS: RANDY BACHMAN AND BURTON CUMMINGS REUNITING TO PERFORM AS THE GUESS WHO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 23 YEARS ON ROCK LEGENDS CRUISE XIII
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • Track Of The Day
    • Track Of The Month
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
427
previous article
SPILL FEATURE: COME SO FAR - A CONVERSATION WITH TOM BAILEY OF THE THOMPSON TWINS
next article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PHANTASTIC FERNITURE - PHANTASTIC FERNITURE

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN SCHUMANN & THE VAGABOND CREW – GHOSTS & MEMORIES

John Schumann & The Vagabond Crew

John Schumann & The Vagabond Crew
Ghosts & Memories
Universal Music Australia

John Schumann was the front man of the group Redgum, a group he left to form The Vagabond Crew in 2005, their name coming from a Henry Lawson poem. He also released several solo albums. Ghosts & Memories is their third studio album and perhaps their best.

This is Australian folk music, which incorporates roots rock and roll. In many ways this is Woody Guthrie brought into the 2010s, and one cannot help but think that this is what Strummer tried to achieve with The Clash. Schumann writes stories, vignettes of everyday life, and the music reflects his lyrics. The stories reflect political views, both globally and personally.

The music is bittersweet, just listen to the opening song, “Times Like These”. The music roams from rock to celtic-like folk, reflecting the heartfelt lyrics. A song that is not so much a protest song or angry song about the problems with the world but more a sad, pleading song for things to change. Simply beautiful.

The album touches on many themes such as the life of John McDouall Stuart (a Scottish explorer who did a great deal of inland exploring of Australia), migrant workers, Anzac history, climate change and relationships. Ghosts & Memories touches on so much that it may appear to be scattered, but it is not. Schumann is able to pull it all together to make it work and in the end, Ghosts & Memories comes together as a whole piece of art.

The Vagabond Crew provides the perfect backing for Schumann. They are tight and work as unit. There are guests as well. Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil) makes an appearance and his drumming stands out and adds even more passion to the album.

The title, Ghosts & Memories, speaks to the presence of Hugh McDonald, a guitarist who was a member of Redgum with Schumann and joined the Vagabonds in 2005. In 2016 he passed away from complications due to prostate cancer. His voice, guitar, and his writing is heard  on the album. In fact several songs were finished without him being present.

There are many styles throughout this album, but each song is distinctly Schumann. He dips his toes into several genres but they all come together to form a cohesive album. He may not have a big name on these shores, but that will change with the release of this album. Ghosts & Memories is an album created by an artist who has developed his own sound throughout the years. Yes, Schumann and  The Vagabond Crew wear some of their influences on their sleeves (Weddings, Parties, Anything and Paul Kelly come to mind) but this does allow Schumann to flex his writing muscle and show off the hot band with whom he works.



Artist Links

website_flat_2016 facebook_flat_2016

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN SCHUMANN & THE VAGABOND CREW – GHOSTS & MEMORIES

Author

Aaron Badgley

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
—
8.0
Total Spill Rating
—
Total Fan Rating
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewalbum reviewsghosts & memoriesjohn schumann & the vagabond crewjust fade awayredgumuniversal music australia
album review, album reviews, ghosts & memories, john schumann & the vagabond crew, just fade away, redgum, universal music australia
About the Author
Aaron Badgley
Born and raised in Whitby, Aaron discovered music through his love of The Beatles. This led to a career in radio, writing for various publications, and ultimately a radio show about The Beatles (Beatles Universe), which ran for over four years. When not immersed in music, Aaron enjoys spending time with the loves of his life -- his wife Andrea, and daughters Emily and Linda (all of whom have an intense love of music too).
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewalbum reviews
 
10
Queens Of The Stone Age

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE – ALIVE IN THE CATACOMBS

by Gerrod Harris on June 13, 2025
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE ALIVE IN THE CATACOMBS MATADOR RECORDS Following an early series of screenings at select, independent cinemas across the world – including Toronto’s Royal Theatre – and the digital release of their concert film, Alive In [...]
 
8.0
Xol Meissner

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: XOL MEISSNER – EXCESS OF LOSS

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on June 13, 2025
XOL MEISSNER EXCESS OF LOSS INDEPENDENT If you stick only to the face value of some information, it just might take you to a wrong track, and there is quite a bit of that here. First of all, Xol Meissner is an alias for a Swiss-born, NYC-based [...]
 
10
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD – PHANTOM ISLAND

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on June 13, 2025
KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD PHANTOM ISLAND P(DOOM) RECORDS So, where have the Australian mavericks gone so far in their explorations? From all things heavy to the outskirts of microtonal and spiritual jazz, while cramming as many albums [...]
 
9.0
Yawn

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: YAWN – WISH I COULD’VE

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on June 13, 2025
YAWN WISH I COULD’VE KILLBEAT MUSIC If you think that crafting close to perfect pop music is easy, then you’ve got things all wrong. Pop has a set of formulas you have to respect, and being inventive and doing it right within those [...]
 
8.0
Norman Greenbaum

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: NORMAN GREENBAUM – SPIRIT IN THE SKY

by Aaron Badgley on June 13, 2025
NORMAN GREENBAUM SPIRIT IN THE SKY CRAFT RECORDINGS In 1967, a band with the unusual yet era appropriate name of Dr. West’s Medicine Show and Junk Band had a minor hit with the novelty song “The Eggplant That Ate Chicago” (it lives up to [...]

Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE – ALIVE IN THE CA...
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: XOL MEISSNER – EXCESS OF LOSS
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD – P...
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: YAWN – WISH I COULD’VE
9.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: NORMAN GREENBAUM – SPIRIT IN THE SKY
8.0

STAY UP-TO-DATE
WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Newsletter
  • Premieres
  • SPILL RETRO REVIEWS
  • Track Of The Month
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2024 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL CONTEST: WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO SEE ACTORS AT LEE’S PALACE ON MAY 3!
520
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BRYAN FERRY & AMELIA BARRATT – LOOSE TALK
508
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MUMFORD & SONS – RUSHMERE
497
 
SPILL CONTEST: ENTER TO WIN A GWAR PRIZE PACK INCLUDING TICKETS TO SEE THEM LIVE AT HISTORY ON JUNE 9!
486
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DUSTY SPRINGFIELD – LONGING
448
 
SPILL FEATURE: A NEW ERA OF CAR SEAT – A CONVERSATION WITH SETH DALBY, ETHAN IVES & ANDREW KATZ OF CAR SEAT HEADREST
440
 
SPILL CONTEST: WIN A MEET-AND-GREET PACKAGE TO SEE ALESSIA CARA AT ROY THOMSON HALL ON MAY 15!
408
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PETER MURPHY – SILVER SHADE
404
 
SPILL FEATURE: IT JUST FEELS LIKE WE’RE A LITTLE MORE IN CHARGE – A CONVERSATION WITH CRISPIAN MILLS OF KULA SHAKER
383
 
SPILL CONTEST: WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO SEE EBO TAYLOR AT THE CONCERT HALL ON APRIL 13!
349
 
SPILL FEATURE: IN THE MEANTIME – A CONVERSATION WITH JONNY CRAGG OF SPACEHOG
332
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN FOXX – WHEREVER YOU ARE
283
 
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: VAGUE NOTION – “BASE SICK”
261
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES