Owen

Owen: (the ep)(the ep) (2004)
Polyvinyl Records

Reviewer Rating: 4

Contributed by: maverickScott
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on May 7th 2004Mike 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 K.

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

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

ConsolationPrizefighter (April 10, 2009)

Every once in a while I stumble on an old Scott Heisel review and wonder how in the fuck someone thought he was good enough that he should be paid to do this.

Anonymous (September 20, 2004)

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.

Anonymous (May 11, 2004)

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

Anonymous (May 10, 2004)

Below was me.

-sickboi

Anonymous (May 10, 2004)

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

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

Anonymous (May 10, 2004)

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

dignin (May 10, 2004)

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.

Anonymous (May 10, 2004)

polyvinyl released braid to me that makes them wonderful.

sickboi (May 10, 2004)

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.

Anonymous (May 10, 2004)

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

GreenVandal (May 9, 2004)

"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?

Anonymous (May 9, 2004)

"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.

Anonymous (May 9, 2004)

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

Anonymous (May 9, 2004)

I thought punks didn't like hippies?

dignin (May 9, 2004)

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

Kurt_F (May 9, 2004)

I love everything this man has ever done.

Anonymous (May 9, 2004)

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

chris666 (May 8, 2004)

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

-Chris

Anonymous (May 8, 2004)

"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.

Anonymous (May 8, 2004)

patchwork skirts are fucking hot

Anonymous (May 7, 2004)

i love the word fuck.

squirrelbait (May 7, 2004)

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. ;)

Icapped2pac (May 7, 2004)

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.

Anonymous (May 7, 2004)

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

-travis

chad (May 7, 2004)

scott, nu folk? come on!

KirbyPuckett (May 7, 2004)

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

- Kirby

i-type-poorly (May 7, 2004)

"Mike Kinsella's alter-ego Owen"

I thought his alter-ego was The Blue Blazer

Anonymous (May 7, 2004)

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