Owsley

owsley

Track Listings
1. On No the Radio
2. I'm Alright
3. Coming Up Roses
4. Good Old Days
5. Sky Is Falling
6. Sentimental Favorite
7. Zavelow House
8. Sonny Boy
9. Homecoming Song
10. Uncle John's Farm
11. Class Clown

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.

Owsley,Owsley,Warner Bros / Wea,Pop,Popular Music,Rock

Owsley
The Hard Way
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Close... but not quite Owsley - Owsley
  • Solid Pervasive Powerpop
  • overcoats and a crackpot from planet antares
  • Owsley makes it two in a row!!
  • Excellent sophomoric effort
 The Hard Way
Owsley
Manufacturer: Lakeview Entertainment
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00013M0NQ
Release Date: 2003-12-02

Tracks:

  1. Be With You
  2. Rise
  3. She's The One
  4. Dude
  5. Down
  6. Matriarch
  7. Undone
  8. The Hard Way
  9. Dirty Bird
  10. Rainy Day People

Album Description

Hailing from Alabama, Owsley has been nurturing and honing his own unique and virally-infectious melodies for some time. His debut album Owsley received huge praise from the media. People Magazine heralded him "poised for overnight success," while Rolling Stone trumpeted "Beatle-esque balladry and magnetic pop hooks." His latest release "The Hard Way" continues his road to perfection. Sultry love songs rub against the hookiest pop south of Canada. Check out why his legion of fans are growing by the minute. This is a true masterpeice of pop craftsmanship.

Band Members: Will Owsley-Electric guitars on all songs, acoustic guitar on track 3 and 8, piano on track 6 and 7, pass guitar on track 5, 6 and 8, vocals and background vocals on all songs Chris McHugh-Drums and percussion on all songs Michael Rhodes-Bass guitar on track 3,9 and 10 Jimmie Lee Sloas-Bass guitar on track 1 and 7 Millard Powers-Bass guitar on track 4 Jonathon Hamby-all Hammond B3 organ, piano on track 4, Chamberlin strings on track 5 and synthesizer on track 9 Keith Thomas-Strings on track 1 and 6 John Painter-Chamberlin strings on track 2 Gordon Kennedy-Electric guitar and background vocals on track 7 Tom Bukovac-Electric and acoustic guitar on track 1, bass guitar on track 2 Rebecca Walker-Background vocals on track 10 Simon Petty-Harmonica on track 8 (Appears courtesy of Foodchain Records) James Michael-Vocal production on track 8

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Close... but not quite Owsley - Owsley.......2007-01-10

This guy is a player, he writes great hooks, and this album is very well done. I may have been spoiled by Owsley - Owsley. Had I heard The Hard Way first, I may have a reversed opinion. Maybe just not enough new sound to this to give it the 5 stars. But you won't be disappointed in it, just might not blow your hair all the way off.

5 out of 5 stars Solid Pervasive Powerpop.......2005-07-02

This record has repeatedly made me late--when it's on, I want to listen & absorb it all. Bad for me, but in a good way. It doesn't help that the last (official) track, Rainy Day People, is my favorite on the record, melding perfectly from the song before it. I adore Abbey Road, so maybe that's why I can't get enough of the last part of the record: The Hard Way, Dirty Bird, Rain Day People, and the hidden & accurate McCartney homage, Band on the Run.

The first half of the record is heartfelt and honest. "Matriarch" is an especially touching song of mourning. But my vote, if you're going over the music samples, is to check out the end. Especially if you like later Beatles.


( ..and, if you get the chance, see him live! This is a studio album, but every tune sounded amazing in concert. As testimony to the him and the guys he toured with, they successfully covered Steely Dan. That's no easy feat.)

4 out of 5 stars overcoats and a crackpot from planet antares.......2005-03-03

I'm actually hurting a little bit. See, I bumped my head into the wall. What happened was I went to see if maybe that Will Owsley guy had a new CD out, thought I could buy it on Amazon. And why not! Loved the first two. Then I started reading the reviews posted for The Hard Way. Dammed if I didn't bust my head falling and laughing at what I saw. That breathless "Fan" love letter stuff is great, it's good to have something mean something to you, I'm with ya. Music sounds good!

But now a word or eleventy-billion or so about you two bitch slappers snappin' at each other.

Alright Mr. "having worked as an engineer with Will personally", pitch correction is like a light switch. On or off. "little, if any"....Hmmmmm. Sure, I will grant you that there are many choices of adjustment, I will acknowledge that there are many parameters that can be tweaked within the software, I can even talk reasonably about them, but that's pompous and boring. I'm only trying for pompous. You sound like a guy who read an interview with Will Owsley in Crawling Up the Ass of Indie Recording Sessions Magazine. No actual engineer I know would describe PCS usage so...so...unbelievably. Hey if I'm wrong, sorry. And if you could stay the hell away from Will's future recording sessions, much appreciated.

Let's take a good look at the "spotlight" review. Or maybe not. I would under some circumstances enjoy coming up with some really clever bitingly sarcastic name for this moron, but the fact he uses his real name is punishment enough. Goat-Licking Ass Clencher sounds kinda funny though. You are so completely wrong about PCS it's really debatable as whether to even dignify your ignorance. You personally could never detect the use of.....auto - tune is a different.... attack and release settings....80% of all artists use PCS in some capacity, undetectably....yeah, like Will is ever 20 cents off.
Great, now I'm losing it. See what happens when I wind up so far from where I wanted to be. Or is it the vacuous blather of your other bleatings. Why did I feel so compelled to "read all my reviews". Guess what, Fountains of Wayne SUCK!!! You are, alternately, right on the money about Dan Brown, I'd of figured you two for buddies though. One more thing, to the dude who wrote "Excellent sophomoric effort" that's comedy! I am so going to lie down now.





5 out of 5 stars Owsley makes it two in a row!!.......2005-02-14

In an age where over produced, incoherent noise is what passes for "music" these days, along comes a true artist like Wil Owsley who reminds you of what rock n' roll SHOULD be. He did it on his first album. Now four years later, he does again on his new release "The Hard Way".

Owsley's new disc is a slight departure from his 1999 debut titled simpley "Owsley". He's developing as a song writer but the songs are a little more layered in thier sound. The guitars are more distorted and the overall feeling goes for more of a pollished sound than the stripped down production of his first album.

The album kicks off with the single "Be With You", an ode to unrequetted love. But even though Be With You is the lead track it is not the strongest cut on the album. That distinction goes to the second track "Rise". Full of pounding drum beats, sky high backing vocals, and a great hook, "Rise" brings out the best of Matthew Sweet, Badfinger and Cheap Trick rolled into a three and a half minute pop song. The album continues with the "She's The One",(another standout track) a song about regret and love lost. Owsley is becoming more visually descriptive in his lyrics. As evidenced by tracks like the title cut "The Hard Way", a story about a compulsive gambler (the last line personifying Lady Luck ;"she's always waiting for me, to love me or ignore me").

There is a hidden bonus track on this CD. At the end of the song Rainy Day People, you will hear Owsley's version of "Band On The Run" recorded for the 2002 McCartney tribute CD "Listen To What the Man Said".

At first this CD didn't connect with me. But after repeated listening I found that I appreciated it more and more. It holds up extremely well after repeated listening. Further more everyone who I've recomended this CD to LOVES it! There is no sophmore jinx here. Owsley has proven himself a consistent and talented singer/songwriter. He really is the real deal.

4 out of 5 stars Excellent sophomoric effort.......2004-11-03

Just sharing my opinions. I too discovered Owsley by accident - it was on a listening station at Tower for new artists, and I just happened to punch the button for his CD, and was quickly hooked. I have an extremely varied taste in music, and I listen in phases. But I have never, in three years, gotten tired of his album, and sort of reveled in the fact that I was listening to music that was so good and that no one else seemed to know about.

So imagine my surprise when I saw his new album at Best Buy. Picked it up immediately, and put it in the CD player when I got back to my car. Right from the get go, I was less than impressed with the first two songs (more so with the second than the first). A little whiney and bland (again, especially the second one). But once the third song came on, we were off to the races. I noticed that the first two were written by Owsley and another guy, and only these two songs were written with this other guy (I can't remember his name). Perhaps it was his influence that affected my taste in them. All I can say is that the rest of the album rocks.

It is hard for me to pick a favorite between an album that I've listened to multiple times over three years and one that I've listened to perhaps half a dozen times in a few days. However, at this point in time, I would pick the second album - it is a little harder/rougher, but it still remains polished from a production perspective.

If you like pop in the same vain as the Beatles, it is almost impossible to go wrong with Owsley.
Owsley
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Gotta Love the Owsley!
  • Interesting!!
  • Another Beatles Wanna-Be Band
  • How Come No More Releases
  • One of the best new artists to come along in ages!!!!
 Owsley
Owsley
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000I8TT
Release Date: 1999-03-23

Tracks:

  1. Oh No The Radio
  2. I'm Alright
  3. Coming Up Roses
  4. Good Old Days
  5. The Sky Is Falling
  6. Sentimental Favorite
  7. Zavelow House
  8. Sonny Boy
  9. The Homecoming Song
  10. Uncle John's Farm
  11. Uncle John's Farm

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

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Gotta Love the Owsley!.......2007-01-10

This guy has got the chops, no doubt about it. Yet what makes this music so alluring is that it's just easy to listen to. It is NOT easy listening. If you like the Beatles, you may love Owsley. Take a listen. If Oh No, The Radio isn't one of the great hooks I've heard, well, I need to get out more. It is.

4 out of 5 stars Interesting!!.......2005-11-19

Are you a fan of the Christian band PFR? How about XTC? Or Jellyfish? Then give this guy a listen! He is ALL about hooks! I have been looking for that "ear ticklin" sound since Jellyfish disbanded years ago. I really like power pop and have bought about 10 power pop cd's in the last month or so looking for that Jellyfish replacement. Well, no one has matched them, but Owsley comes real close to providing that fix. Just about every song gets you "hooked" and will get you humming along. He's really a good musician/writer and his songs with alot of really tight harmonies. One weird thing though is that I think he uses alot of pitch correction (melodyne?). You can hear that flat response that sounds unnatural in a couple places on the cd (I'm Allright, for one). I don't think he needs it, but evidently he does. Anyway, you can get this cd used for a couple bucks, and it's well worth it if you're into power pop!

2 out of 5 stars Another Beatles Wanna-Be Band.......2005-08-01

I bought this hoping for some good rock/pop but instead got some dork rock that tries too desperately to imitate The Beatles. The songs aren't downright horrible, but the lead singer sounds like a dork and as far as Beatle-esque bands, I've heard many better ones.

5 out of 5 stars How Come No More Releases.......2005-07-28

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.

5 out of 5 stars One of the best new artists to come along in ages!!!!.......2004-05-22

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.
Owsley
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Owsley Is The Man!!
  • Owsley Rocks San Diego
 Owsley
Owsley
Manufacturer: Giant
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
RockRock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000JXA8
Release Date: 1999-07-01

Tracks:

  1. Oh No The Radio
  2. I'm Alright
  3. Coming Up Roses
  4. Good Old Days
  5. Sky Is Falling
  6. Sentimental Favorite
  7. Zavelow House
  8. Sonny Boy
  9. Homecoming Song
  10. Uncle John's Farm
  11. Class Clown
  12. Mess With Me

Album Details

New USA Psychedelic Pop Artist Ala Beatles, Jellyfish and Matthew Sweet. Features Japanese Exclusive Bonus Track 'men with Me'.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Owsley Is The Man!!.......2002-06-18

I stumbled across Owsley's album totally by accident -- and what a happy accident it was!! I am truly at a loss as to why this guy has not gotten more notoriety than he has. He is an amazingly talented songwriter, singer, and instrumentalist.

From the first notes of "Oh No The Radio" to the closing track, every song is full of hummably hook-laden, toe-tappingly melodic power-pop that begs repeated listens. "Sonny Boy", "I'm Alright", "Good Old Days" and "Zavelow House" are my favorites, but I love all the tracks on this disc -- I never skip over any of them.

Suffice it to say, if you like power pop such as Matthew Sweet or Phantom Planet, you'll absolutely love this album. If you're not tapping your toes or singing along at some point in the first listen (or the second at the very latest), then you're truly hopeless! Buy it and enjoy ... I know you will!

5 out of 5 stars Owsley Rocks San Diego.......2000-01-29

Good feeling, high energy, perfect melodies. These all come to mind when listing to Owsley's debt album. This band has many creative guitar riffs and vocal lines that take over your mind the first time you hear them. Not to mention they are great live. (Saw them at Brick by Brick in San Diego, January 2000)
Aware Compilation, Vol. 6
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Aware Compilation, Vol. 6
    Various Artists , Shawn Mullins , Owsley , Noel Hartough , Lackey , Rustic Overtones , Cary Pierce , Blake Morgan , Greyboy Morgan , and Mr. Henry
    Manufacturer: Aware Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B00000C2GI
    Release Date: 1998-10-06

    Tracks:

    1. Lullaby - Shawn Mullins
    2. Homecoming Song - Owsley
    3. For Another Time - Noel Hartough
    4. Gasoline - Lackey
    5. Feast Or Famine - Rustic Overtones
    6. Tower - Cary Pierce
    7. Kissing Your Sister - Blake Morgan
    8. Turnips Big Move - Greyboy Morgan
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    10. Pop Song - Bicycle
    11. Hallelujah - Webster Saltman
    12. I Believe - Ben Swift Band
    13. Summer - Noel Hartough
    14. Gulf Of Mexico - Shawn Mullins
    15. What Can I Say - Lackey
    16. Girl Germs (Live) - Rustic Overtones
    17. Quickdraw - Webster Saltman
    18. Happy Friends (Live) - Greyboy Allstars
    Quixotic Sunsets
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Quixotic Sunsets
      Darren Owsley
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
      ASIN: B000FTB80C
      Release Date: 2006-01-03
      Songs for Owsley
      Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
      • Spectrum - 'Songs For Owsley' (Birdman) EP - 3 1/2 stars
      		 Songs for Owsley
      Spectrum
      Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      ASIN: B00000E9RW
      Release Date: 1996-10-08

      Tracks:

      1. Owsley
      2. Liquid Intentions
      3. Feels Like I'm Slipping Away
      4. Sine Study #1
      5. New Atlantis

      Customer Reviews:

      3 out of 5 stars Spectrum - 'Songs For Owsley' (Birdman) EP - 3 1/2 stars.......2007-02-21

      Five track CD single/EP that pays homage to Stanley Owsley,the manufacturer of LSD.Best tracks here are the atmospheric "Liquid Intentions","Sine Study #1" and the electronics-gone-mad "New Atlantis".'Songs For Owsley' notably had Spectrum down to a three piece.Sonic Boom had Alf Hardy(synthesizer,producer)and guitarist Pete Bain helping him put this EP together.Not bad.
      The Hard Way
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		The Hard Way
        Owsley
        Manufacturer: independent
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
        ASIN: B000LX7XNS
        Songs for Owsley
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          		Songs for Owsley
          Spectrum
          Manufacturer: Birdman
          ProductGroup: Music
          Binding: Audio CD

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          Ambient PopAmbient Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
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          ASIN: B000005HOG
          Release Date: 2004-11-19

          Tracks:

          1. Owsley
          2. Liquid Intentions
          3. Feels Like I'm Slipping Away
          4. Sine Study #1
          5. New Atlantis

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