Owen - The Avalanche (June 19, 2020) Album

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1. A New Muse
2. Dead For Days
3. On With The Show
4. The Contours
5. I Should've Known
6. Mom And Dead
7. Headphoned
8. Wanting And Willing
9. I Go, Ego

Echoes of the lo-fi bedroom balladry that defined early Owen come through on the heart-crushing “I Should Have Known,” familiar open-tuned acoustic guitars and weary vocals supported by glowing string arrangements. “On With The Show” is bounding and upbeat, with a jangly instrumental standing in stark contrast to lyrics about crushing failure. KC Dalager from Now, Now contributes guest vocals to several songs, most notably the glacially paced album centerpiece “Mom and Dead.” Layers of glimmering pedal steel and understated music box piano tones build into one of the album’s hardest gut-punches, stunningly pretty instrumentation gift wrapping lines as indisputably bleak as “Wake up, I had a dream you died.”

The Avalanche takes on a new refinement, with spacious musical landscapes making room for devastating lyrics that return to themes of an unravelling marriage and big endings. On previous albums, sarcasm and wry humor would dull the sting of heavier lyrics. Here there are still traces of Kinsella’s trademark humor, but instead of offering a winking dismissal of negative thoughts, it takes the songs to even darker places. Easily the most intense Owen album, The Avalanche is also the most beautifully crafted. Kinsella goes deeper than ever before, with self-reflection so painfully blunt it’s sometimes difficult to look at head on. It’s a guided walk through one of life’s more difficult chapters, resulting in nine of the best Owen songs ever penned and an album that’s as heartbreaking as it is magnificent.

 

Oh hell yeah. So hyped for this. New tour dates up as well.

 

scheduling shows beginning in July? That's not happening...

 

“A New Muse” is fairly standard Owen for a first single, but it’s beautiful too and after 4 years I am stoked on a new album to ride my bike to

 

I love the last song's title, haha. "I Go, Ego."

 

For sure not happening in July... and I'd be surprised if any of the other shows happen as well, unfortunately. I'd ALLLLLMOST be willing to put my health in danger to go to the show in Los Angeles in August... haha (mostly just kidding) but really, I'm dying to see him play a solo show again, so I realllllly hope things get better soon so I can make that happen.

 

Yea was confused when I saw those tour dates.

 

I’ve always enjoyed Owen as background music. Hopefully this will be the album that changes that. Dig the art

 

The show in November may happen. I am surprised he announced dates in July though.

 

What''s everyone's favorite Owen record? Mine is "At Home With Owen". Love that record so much.

 

My favorite is probably L'Ami du Peuple and his best song ever (tight contest) is Who Found Whose Hair In Whose Bed?

 

I'm definitely with you on the At Home With Owen train. Followed closely by I Do Perceive though.

 

Tough call here. I'd have to agree with you with AHWO as a whole. Bag of Bones might be my favorite song of his next to Stay Home and A Trenchant Critique.

 

no good for no one now is my favorite owen record, I think.

love love love this artwork

 

Ghost Town for sure

 

KC being on this gets me super excited.

 

Lovely tune

 

I cannot wait for this album!

Heartbreak, melodic intricacy, and lush arrangements shape Owen’s tenth album, The Avalanche

 

I can’t wait either! But damn, very bummed to hear that he and his wife of foreverrrrr seem to be splitting up...

 

Yeah that’s interesting! I’m not sure if he’s being literal about that because they’ve been together for a long time and have two kids together. Hope everything is okay between them if it’s true though!

 

I completely missed that "and frankly addresses the end of his marriage" line. That's a real bummer. I don't want to make any assumptions, but Mike has been known to be a big drinker and has been drunk on stage, so I hope it wasn't alcohol related which attributed to their divorce.

 

Yeah probs best not to speculate too much but it is very sad as someone who seems like a big family man. One of my favorite artists ever so it's really sad to see and this record may be a heavy listen with that context. Phoebe bridgers on the same day too and last of us 2. Guess I'll just be sad that whole weekend

 

“Now I’ve got friends that don’t know me / A wife that’s disowned me / You in concept only to miss / And I’ve been sober for over two weeks.” is another reason for my speculation, hope he gets any help he needs if necessary.

This album and Phoebe on the same day will wreck me. If neither leak early (doubtful but you never know) I'm not sure which I'll listen to first because both are big anticipations for me.