Owls (album)

In mid 2000, Joan of Arc frontman Tim Kinsella reunited with the former members of Cap'n Jazz: Tim Kinsella on vocals, his brother Mike Kinsella on drums, Victor Villareal on guitar and Sam Zurick on bass, though without Davey von Bohlen, who was busy with the Promise Ring. They performed a one-off show for a fund-raiser, before working on songs for a week.[1] Joan of Arc released The Gap in September that year through independent label Jade Tree.[2] The supporting tour was unsuccessful, with tiny crowds and unrest within the band (which also featured Mike Kinsella and Zurick in the line-up).[1]

Joan of Arc played one more US show, alongside four in Japan in January 2001, before breaking up.[1] Following the demise, Kinsella's band with the former Cap'n Jazz members was announced to the public as Owls.[3] Owls was recorded by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in April 2001; the recordings were mastered by John Golden at John Holden Mastering.[4] Tim Kinsella said Albini was crucial to the project: "If we are gonna do this, record to tape, record all live -- it needs to be Albini".[5]

Owls is an emo[6] and indie rock album,[7][8] which drew comparisons to Ghosts and Vodka (sharing members with Owls),[9] the lo-fi energy of Pavement and the jazz blues of Captain Beefheart.[10] Tim Kinsella's stream-of-consciousness,[11] abstract lyricism was influenced by the work of E. E. Cummings,[12] while his vocal styling was compared to Lou Reed and Neil Young.[10] Villarreal bounced between plucked single-notes and borderline metal,[11] while incorporating arpeggios.[9] His guitar work recalled Don Caballero's American Don (2000) and the Ghosts and Vodka albums.[12] Mike Kinsella's drumming, couple with Zurick's bass parts, anchored Tim Kinsella's more off-kilter vocal performances.[12]

The first two tracks "What Whorse You Wrote Id On" and "Anyone Can Have a Good Time" included percussion instrumentations, such as bongs and a tambourine.[12] The latter sees Kinsella tackle the topics of heredity and matrimony, while its coda saw him pondering a conventional band format.[13] "Everyone Is My Friend" is a math rock song,[14] with jangling guitar parts and upbeat drum patterns, earning a comparison to Sunny Day Real Estate.[8] "I Want the Blindingly Cute to Confide in Me", which is reminiscent of The Gap,[13] epitomizes the record's various musical forms: pseudo-jazz rhythms, Andy Summers-esque guitar playing, intermittent vocal melodies and Kinsella's lyrical style.[15] The title of the penultimate song "Life in the Hair Salon-Themed Bar on the Island" is in reference to a salon in New York City. The indie rock track incorporated influence from Frank Zappa;[15] it exemplifies Villarreal's guitar abilities.[12] The second half of the closing track "Holy Fucking Ghost" features several tempo changes.[12]

Track listing per booklet.[4]

1. "What Whorse You Wrote Id On" – 4:07
2. "Anyone Can Have a Good Time" – 5:34
3. "I Want the Quiet Moments of a Party Girl" – 3:43
4. "Everyone Is My Friend" – 3:26
5. "I Want the Blindingly Cute to Confide in Me" – 5:58
6. "For Nate's Brother Whose Name I Never Knew or Can't Remember" – 2:57
7. "Life in the Hair Salon-Themed Bar on the Island" – 3:43
8. "Holy Fucking Ghost" – 6:09

Japanese bonus track

9. "Later" – 4:16

Personnel per booklet.[4]

Owls

• Mike Kinsella – drums
• Tim Kinsella – lead vocals
• Victor Villareal – guitar
• Sam Zurick – bass

Production

• Steve Albini – recording
• John Golden – mastering
• Owls – self-portraits
• Paul Koob – graphic design

Citations

Sources