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Street Dogs - State of Grace
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Mike Kinsella's alter-ego Owen has produced another batch of feel-good acoustic nu-folk songs, but in a change from No Good For No One Now [review], they're all surprisingly solid, and much stronger than any of his previous work under the Owen banner.

The five songs on this EP are the strongest Kinsella has put to tape since his days as the frontman for American Football; coincidentally, opening track "Skin and Bones" actually harkens back to those days, with a fascinating 10/4 beat that makes me want to listen to American Football's "Never Meant" as soon as the song ends. Another standout is the the almost 7-minute dirge of "That Mouth," proof that a song can be slow and long and still go somewhere. It's songs like this that make you want to lie in bed all day staring at the ceiling.

One of my biggest beefs with Owen before was the amount of profanities in the lyrics on No Good For No One Now. The songs were well composed, but hearing random "fuck"s inserted into virtually every song was a bit jarring. Kinsella seems to have the Tourette's under control on this EP, spending more time writing potent lines to lost loves such as "We're two bicycles / Ridden, too tired to know which one of us two was dumb enough to choose the other as a lover," or "You're on your way with the taste of blood from a bitten tongue / You're in need of some new teeth that won't cave in."

With (the ep), Mike Kinsella has finally reached the potential he first showed with American Football. With a full-length due in the fall, one can only hope this hot streak continues.

MP3
In The Morning, Before Work



People who liked this also liked:
Owen - No Good For No One NowGet Up Kids - Something To Write Home AboutOwen - I Do PerceiveJimmy Eat World - Bleed AmericanJimmy Eat World - ClarityGet Up Kids - Four Minute MileGet Up Kids - Guilt ShowCap'n Jazz - AnalphabetapolothologyMineral - EndSerenadingAlkaline Trio/Hot Water Music - Split



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    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 20, 2004 at 3:51 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This album is amazing! The lyrics are clever, meaningfull and far from cliche. The music itself was enough to move me. THe production fits the style beatifully. A masterpiece.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 7:23 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Some of the lead guitar parts on the tune "In the morning, before work" remind me of the lick in Dylan's "Not Dark Yet". Of course you musically-retarded bastards would've never guessed.
    This score's for both tunes.
    -MATEO

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 10, 2004 at 10:47 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Below was me.

    -sickboi

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 10, 2004 at 10:47 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Punx? Not hardly. The "oi" is a joke.

    I just don't like their bands. To each his own.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 10, 2004 at 9:41 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    bought this today...........its ok

    Posted by dignin on 2004-05-10 17:43:28
    My Score:

    sickboipunx, you bitch and whine more about saddle creek and emo in general than the bands on saddle creek do in their music, and their getting paid.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 10, 2004 at 4:40 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    polyvinyl released braid to me that makes them wonderful.

    Posted by sickboi on 2004-05-10 10:48:40
    My Score:

    I'm all for diversity in music, but Polyvinyl just makes me want to vomit. This score is for Polyvinyl and Saddle Creek. Boo-fucking-hoo.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 10, 2004 at 9:31 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Steve Holmes was the brain child of American Football. Just an FYI. Go back about your business.

    Posted by GreenVandal on 2004-05-09 16:30:54
    My Score:

    "It's songs like this that make you want to lie in bed all day staring at the ceiling".

    Now, would that be with the gun against my temple, or in my mouth?

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 9, 2004 at 3:52 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "Just incase you care, you spelled Mike in the last little tidbit there as "MIke" w/ a capital "I"

    - Kirby"

    You fucking nancy. Get a goddamn life. Or kill yourself. Preferrably the latter.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 9, 2004 at 3:51 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Fucking trash. Throw this bullshit in a dumpster and light the fucker on fire.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 9, 2004 at 3:30 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I thought punks didn't like hippies?

    Posted by dignin on 2004-05-09 13:56:49
    My Score:

    Yeah Scott is the jason tate of this site, as in they scott runs this and tate runs ap, you dumb shit.

    Posted by Kurt_F on 2004-05-09 12:47:34
    My Score:

    I love everything this man has ever done.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 9, 2004 at 5:02 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    scott is the jason tate of punknews. it's on polyvinyl, give it the good review! pizza for all fat fuck.

    Posted by chris666 on 2004-05-08 14:19:32
    My Score:

    You forgot the close the quotation mark after the word "fuck's"

    -Chris

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, May 8, 2004 at 11:53 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "It's songs like this that make you want to lie in bed all day staring at the ceiling".

    I agree on that comment scott.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, May 8, 2004 at 10:08 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    patchwork skirts are fucking hot

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 7, 2004 at 10:45 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i love the word fuck.

    Posted by squirrelbait on 2004-05-07 19:07:42
    My Score:

    I like this, and this is a nice review, but why the "nu" part? It makes me think about nu-metal and frankly, that word sends shivers down my spine. So please refrain from using the word "nu" ever again on this site. Thanks. ;)

    Posted by Icapped2pac on 2004-05-07 18:05:33
    My Score:

    I fucking hate folk music (or nu-folk or whatever you may call it). It reminds of patchwork skirts, and that's just no good at all.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 7, 2004 at 5:11 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    good review scott. i definitely agree. this ep is (fucking) fantastic.

    -travis

    Posted by chad on 2004-05-07 16:51:45
    My Score:

    scott, nu folk? come on!

    Posted by KirbyPuckett on 2004-05-07 16:42:52
    My Score:

    Just incase you care, you spelled Mike in the last little tidbit there as "MIke" w/ a capital "I"

    - Kirby

    Posted by i-type-poorly on 2004-05-07 16:12:10
    My Score:

    "Mike Kinsella's alter-ego Owen"

    I thought his alter-ego was The Blue Blazer

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 7, 2004 at 3:29 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    score is for american football. you emo faggots should pick up their album, it will make you cry.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 7, 2004 at 3:07 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    great ep. wish hed tour with a band.

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