Customer Reviews

Owsley

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Back in the cold winter of 1999 I was driving through town listening to my local modern rock station (it's converted to hip hop now). That night I heard a song by a new artist. That artist was Owsley and the song was "Coming Up Roses". The very next day I went out and bought his CD. And it was like unearthing a buried treasue.

In a world of pop music that's about more style over substance, Owsley is one of those rare singer/songwriters that delivers a truckload of quality music. On his first CD he showcases his power pop prowess with the skill of a seasoned songwriter. In an age where the 3 minute 30 second pop song has become a lost art form, Owsley has mastered the craft that puts him at the same level of his peers like Matthew Sweet, Fountains of Wayne and Jason Falkner. He can rock out (evidenced by the song "I'm Alright") and can deliver a thoughtful melody on the very next track ("Coming Up Roses"). He can also deliver those bouncy McCartneyesque pop songs that make you bob your head along to the beat ("Sonny Boy"). Each song is packed with emotion. There are no throw away tracks here. This is one of those rare finds that you can listen to wire to wire without skipping any songs. With an album this full of keenly crafted pop hooks, you'll find yourself humming along with the music long after you finish listening.

The album has a great sound. There's some excellent production quality without it sounding too obtrusive. The songs are the stars here. And they never get bogged down in tedious or cheesey gimmickey effects. As a guitar player, for me was a big thing that the album doesn't sound overly cluttered or compressed. The guitars aren't overly distored and you can hear each instrument clearly. There's a preference for melody as opposed to mayhem.

I can't say enough about this CD. If you're a music fan, then this is a great CD for you. If you're a power popster, then this is a MUST HAVE.

If it's tight vocals, melodies that stick to your ribs, songs that are easy to relate to, great production, and great musicianship that you desire, then you're about to make a smart purchase. Will Owsley has come up with an album of material that many in the "pop" industry dream of releasing. It flows well from start to finish and it sounds great. Surprisingly, it was all recorded by Owsley in his home studio. It was done so well that his record company decided to release it as is. All Owsely had to do was pick someone to master it. But Owsley is no stranger to writing great songs as he's been on the scene before. In 1993 he teamed up with Ben Fold's old band mate in Majosha, Millard Powers, to form the Semantics. Unfortunately this CD was only released in Japan. If you're lucky enough to find it, GRAB IT, because it's a MAJOR jem! Millard also co-wrote and played on some of these new songs as well(a few are Semantics songs that have been re-recorded). We all need to do what we can to help support Owsley. Radio is slowing starting to give this guy a chance. With Owsley, it's all about the song. Which in my opinion is the most important issue. Top 40 alternative radio proves that it's all about marketing and having a niche. But those bands never last long. Owsely has staying power. He's simply too good to just fizzle out. Love him, embrace him, and buy the freakin CD...

Ever go a while without listening to a good album? Then all of a sudden it comes up and bites you right in the ass. Well, thats exactly what this Owsley CD did to me.(Sorry thats the only metaphor I could think of) But it's true. After going a few months without something new and exciting you seem to get a little bit restless, but as soon as Igot my hands on the thing, I couldn't get it out of my player. What I like most about this disc is that fact that it's not one type of music. Sure, you can catergorize it as powerpop, yet Will Owsley draws on so many different influences that it could be considered anything from rock to anything in the pop music genre....which is great, cause this guy really knows how to rock out...like on the opening track, "Oh no the Radio." The rest of the album sways between the classic rock of ZEP, Queen, Who..to more modern pop of say, Jellyfish as heard on the Beatlesque "Sonny Boy." All in all, a great album that will keep your cd player happy for months on end.

Will Owsley has paid his dues, yet the Industry keeps asking for more interest. Having worked & toured with the likes of Shania Twain & Amy Grant (amongst the short list of overplayed artists), as well as having fronted THE SEMANTICS with Ben Folds (their only album never received a U.S. release), Owsley quite obviously knows his way around the studio, but not around the system that has him stonewalled.

This stunning, brilliantly conceived & executed album had only a minor airplay hit ("I'm Alright"), & that, in my opinion, was the mildest tune on the album. The first time I heard anything off this release ("Oh, No! The Radio"), it LITERALLY stopped me in my tracks as I was leaving the record store. The music, the vocals & the writing were fresh & different, but also as familiar & comfortable as a favourite old jacket which you haven't worn in years. It's Power Pop in its purest form & nothing less than an utter joy to hear. As the late, great Kevin Gilbert wrote, "it's got more hooks than a tackle box!".

Unfortunately, the truth about this album (as well as its creator) is that it's too good for the pabulum that mires the so-called Top 40 market, which changes almost hourly. Will Owsley has a style, depth & substance which is all-too absent in today's sound-bite culture. It doesn't really fit into any pigeonhole & it's well known that the Industry doesn't cotton to people & things it can't stamp to death.

Fortunately, Will has recently established his own record label & a sophomore release is imminent. I just hope this young man with a breath of fresh air can get the kudos he deserves for his briliance.

This is definitely a must have esp for those of us into the Beatles combined with new music. The words are incredibly original and the music infectious - the first time you listen, you may say, oh, that's okay. The listen again. And again. You will learn to love it and now I am ordering their new CD. And if you like this, you have to check out dada - another refreshing band from the crap that is out there now ... buy this, you won't be sorry!

It's too bad the way the music industry is nowadays. The crap they try to ram down our throats and ignore what a majority of us wants: GOOD MUSIC! You get plenty of that here with track after track of well-crafted power-pop gems in the style of McCartney/Lennon post-Beatles era. Every track is a potential classic. Thank God for the interent 'cause that's how I found this one.

In the days of the Backstreet Boys and a whole slew of new bands supposedly breaking new ground with mostly bland and often horrible new music, Owsley proves that there is still quality music being produced these days. Along with a few other exceptions (Jason Falkner and the Black Crowes included) Owsley is crafting truly great music which may not be "ground breaking", but then again, who said music needed to break new ground to be great? Though some might label Owsley's music as "derivitive", I must confess that all my favorite bands (especially the greatest pop band of the 90s, Jellyfish) are derivitive. Led Zeppelin was derivitive! All that aside, I guess what I'm trying to say is that Owsley is quite simply GREAT! His debut CD is a pleasure from start to finish. Song styles are varied throughout the CD so you don't feel like your hearing 11 variations of the same song. Owsley has a great pop sense and has produced 11 power pop/rock gems. All the songs are great, but two real standouts for me are Sonny Boy and the infectious Uncle John's Farm. There are little treats throughout the CD and hooks galore. I especially liked the instrumental reprise of Good Old Days with some cool Hammond organ accompaniment at the of the CD. Don't delay. Buy this CD! If you're a fan of good old-fashioned pop/rock music, this is the CD for you. Owsley's CD is definitely near the top of the list of my 10 Best CDs of '99. Don't settle for what the rest of the world is listening to. Buy Owsley's CD now! Owsley is definitely power pop at its best!

Owsley is a dying breed. That is, he's a song writer. In todays' MTV generation, an artist like Owsley will probably get overlooked because he doesn't wear sparkly clothes or play white boy metal. He is a true songwriter and in his first solo album there is more melody and catchy songs than you can shake a stick at. If you like this CD, check out The Frampton Brothers, their new CD File Under F is classic.

This album has not left my cd rotation sice I picked it up.
This guy is better than 2/3 of the so called stars today.
It's a masterpiece !

The Beatle connection is pure pleasure.

This is one of the best albums of the 90's. Too bad it's creator recently ended his own life. He seemed so optimistic, I guess the lack of success weighed on him. Hard to believe he's gone. RIP Will.