Among the Ghosts

For the past 20 years, Memphis’ Lucero have been one of the hardest-working bands around, touring relentlessly and fidgeting restlessly with their Southern rock sound. For their ninth album, Among the Ghosts, they strip away the Stax horns and rockabilly piano flourishes of past releases, opting instead for a live-in-the-studio feel that foregrounds Ben Nichols’ distinctive, gravelly vocals and his piercing, personal lyrics. “Even though I’m in a happier place than I’ve ever been before,” he recently told Billboard, “the songs on the record are a little bit darker.” And indeed, tracks like “To My Dearest Wife”—inspired by Civil War soldiers’ letters—add historical gravitas to the Southern gothic style they’ve been perfecting for two decades.