As I sit here, in the office, dosed up to the eyes on painkillers and caffeine and hearing the british summer come to it's inevitable end in August through blinds, I'm faced with yet another debut solo album from another well established rock frontman. More stripped back songs to match the lack of other band members, more confusion as to why I can love the group's output but find the leading man's solo debut so boring.
This time it's Frightened Rabbit's Scott Hutchison's under the moniker Owl John with debut record Owl John and how I haven't just copypasta'd the previous two reviews is for the simple reason that, at the very least, Owl John does sound a wee bit like something Frightened Rabbit would throw together.
That and it isn't bad at all.
The key difference between this record and Frightened Rabbit's discography is the anthem quality of Owl John. Reverberation is turned up to eleven from Pedestrian Verse with far more echo-y guitars and simplistic percussion to carry the music.
Hutchison's vocals and lyrics are frustratingly blended in the rear of the mix when they should be near the forefront. The typically titled Hate Music finally lets him sing without being background fodder and in typical fashion; he's a supremely good lyricist; a brutally honest storyteller with contrasting soft vocals.
The first half of the album is strongest, establishing the new sound as contrasting big music to quieter vocals, but the second half unfortunately teeters off track and doesn't really go anywhere. It's a damn shame when the album ends on the combination of Don't Take Off the Gloves and finally Stupid Boy on a simplistic whimper.
If you're a fan of Frightened Rabbit, there will be songs to like on Owl John. It doesn't veer too far from the well-trodden ground of Hutchison and co's previous albums, but for those who want atmospheric loudness with quiet vocal melodies and the occasional piercing lyric but know deep down that he's done better, you could do far worse.
7/10
H
@Retcon_Nation
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