Ghost Town

Artist: Owen
Label: Hobbledehoy Record Co.
Website: myspace.com/mybandowen

Mike Kinsella is probably still best known for his early work in critically lauded bands American Football, Joan of Arc and Cap'n Jazz but many fans have stayed with him and followed the emo troubadour on his solo project Owen. Now on his sixth record, Ghost Town, Owen answers the question what happens to aging indie stars with an easy answer called life!

After his marriage and the birth of his daughter propelled the material on New Leaves [2009], normal daily life struggles and responsibilities are now part of Kinsella's everyday, as things now are more complicated. This life transition comes through on Ghost Town, as the material is much more rooted from his core. One of my favorite lines is delivered on "No Place Like Home", that has Kinsella plainly stating "Fuck you and your front lawn" in a nonchalant mood that immediately tells you how he feels.

Ghost Town separates itself out from Owen's previous records as it features a much fuller sound that is created by its rock moments like how the last 1:30 of the more subdued "I Believe" erupts with a full band till its end or the electric guitar solo near the conclusion of "Everyone's Asleep In The House But Me". "No Language" has a very post-punk vibe throughout its entirety and many of the tracks here features a solid drum beat.

Of course, Ghost Town still shows that Owen can deliver the strumming simplicity on "O, Evelyn...", which is an ode to his daughter that is touching to anyone that has a child. Brian Deck (Iron & Wine) and Neil Strauch (Bonnie "Prince" Billy) produced the record which were the absolute right choice for this album at this point in Owen's career.

Clearly Kinsella is not 24 any more but Ghost Town just shows that talent can shine regardless of where they are in their career if the person just writes from the heart. That is exactly what happened here which makes Ghost Town one of Owen's stronger outputs and a record that only gets stronger with each spin.

Christopher Anthony

For more of Christopher Anthony's music reviews, check out The Fire Note