Owsley

Owsley

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 1999)
• Original Release Date: March 23, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B00000I8TT
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #194,052 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It seems that the only thing foreseen more frequently than a big pop revival is the death of Beatlesque rock & roll. Neither prediction ever quite comes true. As sure as you can count on a Crowded House coming along every few years to serve as a new messiah for pure pop, you know you'll soon be scratching your head and pondering, What ever happened to Jellyfish? But they just keep coming. Will Owsley is the latest Great Hope to step forward. Owsley fronted the Semantics, a Southern trio whose Geffen debut was never shipped. After that bitter disappointment, the group's drummer--one Ben Folds--moved on and Owsley ended up in the touring bands of Amy Grant and Shania Twain. Don't draw any conclusions based on his past employers, however. Owsley plays rock & roll, albeit of the lyrically wistful, lovingly arranged variety. Owsley needs to pour a little more of his own soul into his work, but while he learns how to bring greater depth to his songs, the surface-level pleasures found on this self-titled debut are plenty captivating. --Steven Stolder

Entertainment Weekly

[The album] has hooks galore, lots of blazing six-string, and a radio-ready sound that could ignite a retro-dance craze.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best new artists to come along in ages!!!!, May 22, 2004

By	Robb Boutros (Northford, CT United States) - See all my reviews

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pop Bliss For the Masses, May 19, 1999

By	Jason Sheroan (Kokomo, IN United States) - See all my reviews

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...

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In the top ten of 99', May 19, 1999

By A Customer

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.