Owsley is a great band from the UK that I recently discovered, no not JUST another Oasis, although there are some similarities common to most UK bands. Will Owsley was the driving force behind the record and it was in his living room that the album was recorded over a three-year period. I'll briefly go over most of the songs in the album, but you really need to hear the stuff.
"Oh No the Radio" is a good song and if you listen to the lyrics, the story is about a guy breaking up with his girlfriend, and everywhere he goes the radio plays songs which remind him of her. The song is slightly melancholy, but remains amusing. For instance, he "goes to a drive-in movie/where the radio will not get to me/roll down the window for the talk-back/our song's on the movie soundtrack." This smart song has crisp and understandable lyrics with a nice backing of guitars.
"I'm Alright" is the single, at least that's what I heard on the local radio station. Once again, the lyrics are fairly clear, "I'm not a slave to conventional ways" and "I don't care what you say/nothing's gonna change me anyway." The song promotes originality and is generally upbeat and catchy.
"Coming Up Roses" starts with some odd chords, but then the song sinks into a nice progression which synchronizes well with the vocals. The bridge has a nice guitar solo and violin accompaniment. "Sentimental Favorite" is a somewhat similar song that sounds good.
"Good Old Days" is about returning to your hometown and noticing all the subtle changes. As he discovers all the differences, his "mind goes wandering down memory lane/looking out for those good old days."
After this song is where things start to weaken, "Zavelow's House" has a neat little guitar riff, but the song is lacking depth. In "Sonny Boy," a piano hits staccato chords behind a basic guitar strum. That's most of the song, but there is a neat finger-picking bridge followed by a nice solo. These songs aren't horrible, they just aren't anything special.
"The Homecoming Song" is where the album picks up again. The song is about returning home and trying to get back with a former girlfriend. "I spent a long time away/and its good to be home/and together is better than being alone."
"Uncle John's Farm" is about having a place to escape your problems, not incredibly impressive, but an easy listen.
"Class Clown" closes the ablum slow, soft, and melancholy. However, after the song ends, there is a reprise of "Good Old Days" without lyrics. Which instead of leaving the album with a sad tone, it ends with an upbeat note.
Owsley is an album I bought on a whim when I saw it at Best Buy, and I'd only heard one song. This turned out to be an outstanding record, and I definitely recommend you give it a try!
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