Album Review: Joseph Arthur – You’re Not a Ghost Anymore: Faith 

David M Rangel / March 31, 2026 / Reviews 

It’s  been seven years since we last had a solo album from Joseph Arthur. But it’s not as if the singer/songwriter, perhaps most famously known for his single “In the Sun” (featured prominently in the satirical teen comedy, Saved, about Christian fundamentalism starring Mandy Moore and MacaulayCulkin) hasn’t been busy. Quite the contrary as Arthur gets set to release an ambitious three album project created and honed over a six year period. You’re Not a Ghost Anymore will come out in three separate musical movements: Faith, Heart and Fight, the first of which will be released this Friday. Arthur describes the records as “states of being” written across “collapse, recovery and return”, as opposed to three separate musical genres.

Let’s be honest; rock music with obvious religious overtones is a trip which some listeners may not be interested in taking.  A number of the song names on this record may deter some people from even attempting a quick listen. This could be a mistake and said people could possibly be missing out on something they may have liked. Though the record is filled with spiritual, devout, imagery, it is devoid of the typical pontification, sanitized sound and the formulaic, safely predictable songwriting often seen as typical components of religiously-toned styles of music.

Arthur, a multifaceted creator, and performer of the highest order, has left his artistic integrity intact despite tackling subject matter that could come off as fakery if delivered from the hands of less genuine artists. He has always been revered by fans for his brutal honesty in podcasts and blogs. His candor with regard to mental health and substance abuse issues has lived within the realms of his music and visual art. This is a record of a man finding fulfillment in being on the right path to lead him out of a long-held darkness. He’s still unsure of some things and has questions, but is celebrating what he feels is the probability of being headed in the right direction, in a way that works for him. He is not so much “singing at you“ as he is simply exuding joy and contentment that listeners can take in their own way.

You Are Not A Ghost Anymore: Faith is fillled with the kind of reverby vocals, distorted, folk guitars, and experimental noise that has come to be Arthur’s indie rock trademark. “I Wanna Know You” enters in with an angelic, choir-like sound reaching to the rafters before entering into a moody guitar-based conversation with the Lord, with the sincerity of other broken, salvation-seeking singers such as Richard Ashcroft. The track is the first single off the record and arguably, the most commercially accessible. Listeners, and particularly fans of Arthur’s visual art will want to check out and ponder the song’s artistic, minimalist music video.

There are hints of rock opera sounds and slight forays into Pink Floyd-style prog that make appearances in a few of these songs. “Hey Satan” pairs otherworldly music with a southern gospel style flair in the chorus. While “In The Shadow Of The Cross” has vocal inflections that have a vague resemblance to Robert Plant. It’s one of a few tracks (along with “He Died”) where the sound of Arthur’s voice takes on an atypical road-weary sounding bass tone in stark contrast to his usually smooth, clean vocal delivery. 

The brighter, sunnier (if you can stretch to call them that) tracks on the record include “Count It All Joy”, which features the line, “God is knocking on your front door”, an actual upbeat hook that stays in your head. And “Demons” practically dares you to sing along to its laid-back, Jack Johnson style feel. “No Weapons” has moody, harmony-filled verses and sounds like it could be the soundtrack to a religious revival held by the side of a river, within a dream.

Joseph Arthur has delivered an emotionally strong record that dives deep into his convictions. Most of the tracks are less like typical songs and more like individual artistic soundscapes. They come off like a portfolio that blends hip, sonic noise with cerebral confessions and observations that all lead to a kind of soul-cleansing which Arthur wants to share. Whether we take it purely for its musical entertainment factor, or pursue an understanding of its deeper meaning, the message is never forced and the record stands on its own as an intriguing piece of Indie rock culture.