Send "Owen " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Popmatters |
 Mike Kinsella, better known to you as Owen, has had quite the fruitful music career. A one-man-band, Owen has a style reminiscent of a rowdy Iron & Wine, which is still quite maudlin and mellow. Written on the eve of the birth of his daughter, and thus forcing Kinsella to reflect on the tumultuous relationship he had with his own father, Ghost Town is slightly more elevated in atmosphere and instrumentation than earlier efforts, but is similar in vein to 2009’s New Leaves.The album opener “Too Many Moons” is a nice acoustic number detailing the turmoil that this seemingly happy new father and spouse/partner suffer through. Kinsella sings about raising and expelling the inner demons that keep him from being capable of contentment. He sings: “I’m not coming home until these demons get bored / In mirrored eyes I see kerosene / and you’ve got the matches.” It’s a haunting little tune, accented nicely by a surprisingly somber false end. The track’s only drawback is the occasional emotionlessness of Kinsella’s voice, which butchers the French language. He rounds out his intonation in such a way that it sounds stiff and unfeeling, which is confusing given the starkness of his introspective lyrics. This isn’t always the case. There are times when his line delivery conveys emotion well, but there are other times when such emotional portrayal falls flat. On “No Place Like Home”, he sings: There’s no place like home for collecting burdens / and conjuring ghosts that don’t know they’re dead / He insists that he’s just sick and I don’t have the heart / to tell him any different / It’s the way it’s been and the way it will be until we leave / We don’t need a mirror / We don’t need those pictures on the wall / We don’t need to see ourselves as we are now. The instrumentation pulsates, indicating a degree of urgency in the subject matter, but Kinsella’s delivery is unflinching and unaffected. It’s a jarring contrast that doesn’t completely work, even though, at this point in his career, most fans are probably used to his occasionally flat vocal delivery. To newer fans, this may require some time to get used to. His voice isn’t a massive deterrent to enjoying his music, but it drags the album down slightly. To an ear with a sensitivity towards pitch, Kinsella’s singing could potentially grate....full text |
| Pupfresh |
| It’s been two years since the release of Mike Kinsella’s, otherwise known as Owen, last full length release, New Leaves, and in a few short months Owen will be releasing his new 9 song album, Ghost Town. Owen has always been known for his somber lyrics and eccentric instrumentation and this album is no different. Ghost Town starts off with the track “Too Many Moons” which brings you into the album with a classic soft, acoustic finger picked guitar part that no Owen song would be complete without. From the start of the first track, you can tell the album has a different “feel” to it. Unlike the last album, this album has a more organic feel and is more acoustic lead which makes this a perfect record for the upcoming season. Although the album is only 9 songs, the famous quote of “quality over quantity” describes this album perfectly. I couldn’t see this album being more than 9 songs as it’s run time at a little over 40 minutes still reigns supreme to some ‘full lengths’ released this year. There are two specific tracks on the album that stick out to me and leave me replaying them over and over again. The fifth track, “The Armoire,” is a more somber song about not feeling at home even though you are home. The lead guitar lick is simplistic yet somehow when layered on top of all the other instruments in the song the guitar part is really complex. Album closer, “Everyone’s Asleep in the House But Me,” starts off with the signature acoustic guitar that fans of Owen love, but with this track the drums, electric guitar swells, and soloing pick up rather quickly. The song depicts a sleep-deprived person trying to figure out what he wants to do with his time while everyone is sleeping as Kinsella sings, “But I’m killing time in a ghost town. / Dim lights and dull sounds. / This is what it’s like to be dead and leave behind little more than a stain in the carpet.” After those words are sung, the song picks up from a melancholy duet into a minute long outro. These song specifically shows off the skill that Kinsella has as a song writer both lyrically and musically. Owen has yet again shown given listeners a chilling and personal experience with this new album. Mike Kinsella is by far one of the most honest and gripping songwriters making music today that not only is good lyrically, but also provides instrumentation that any musician would wish to have. ...full text |
| Stereokiller |
| Ever since the first plucked chord of American Football's debut CD, I've been hooked on Mike Kinsella. Don't get me wrong, I love Cap 'N Jazz as well (whom he played drums for.) But there's no denying that Mike's voice, drenched in emotion and cynicism, is by far more appealing. Never before have I heard such a melding of beautifully tragic music with such self-depreciating and bitter lyrics. Atleast not done so effortlessly. And that's what helped me fall in love with Owen. Back with even quirkier guitars and even odder time signatures, "Ghost Town" is nine tracks of what Mike's been known for. Emotional and cynical Indie rock. Unlike his past two releases which saw a more positive side emerge due to his then recent marriage and birth of his daughter, this release digs deep and rekindles some of the darkness that still hides in the far reaches of his heart. Both musically and lyrically. In edition to his technical acoustic strumming, this release sees a heavier influence of string instruments. This only enhances the over-all mood of each song and grabs the listener even tighter. Making you feel more than listen as only Mike can do. This is most apparant in my favorite track "An Animal." Which also shows his expert use of lyrical content. "I did my time Endless days and nights I paid for my sins so I could come back and sin again I've seen the light Burning hot and bright It scorched my skin I said fuck that and came back to sin again." May not seem as much when read without the music leading you. But when heard together, it crushes you. "Ghost Town" is definitely a must have for any Mike Kinsella/Owen fan. (Or anyone for that matter.)...full text |
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