Album Rating: 3.5

the king of whys was ok but it sounds like he didn’t try as hard and well as he did on everything else

I do perceive. is also a fantastic album

King of Whys was alright.

Album Rating: 3.5

Pretty standard Owen, it's a sound I really like so as a result I like the record. I get why anyone would be getting tired of his deal by now though.

your mom is a lot like the review summary

Album Rating: 3.5

loved the production on this one

Album Rating: 4.0

The production is awesome! Sean Carey from f'n Bon Iver

genuine feedback en route:

review skirted the surface a bit, water-strider style. i think you'd improve as a writer/reviewer by trying to cut to the essence of the album a bit more. you sorta lean into that in the end of the third paragraph but don't really plunge. all i get from the review is that the production is good and the guitar is nice, but not enough mention of how this is viable artistically

with that in mind, the closing paragraph seems like a formality. you mention how the album proves how consistent Kinsella is as a songwriter, yet don't really call back to his prior material enough to justify that being a closing statement. and same with the lyrics mention

- also, you repeat the phrase "classic Owen fingerpicking pattern" in the second paragraph and idk if it was more intended effect but it reads weird imo

i just mean that, if you had to establish "what does this album actually say / convey", i think the review could go deeper. but that's just me projecting my own preferences for reviewing. anyone can listen to an album and say "yeah, the guitar does this, and the drums do that", but i guess i'm more interested in what is actually being expressed from the musician's headspace, and how you as a listener have interpreted it. obv every listener might feel differently in that sense, but it sorta proves to the reader that the album has that power

a decent example off the top of my head might be this review https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/81215/Fiona-Apple-Fetch-The-Bolt-Cutters/ john spends quite a bit of time really getting at what fiona apple is conveying (from his point of view) in terms of how the songs actually feel and what makes them powerful. (idk if it's a perfect review lol, maybe not, but it came to mind so here it is)

"I guess it’s hard for me to touch on what exactly an artist is conveying beyond just analyzing the lyrics and saying they touch on themes of X, Y and Z, just because it’s so open to interpretation."
i mean, for sure, but i'm a firm believer that the listener defines the art more than the artist. sorta like a "if a tree falls in the woods" type of scenario. even if your interpretation is "off", the fact that the music is good enough to welcome any interpretation is kinda already a plus

i'm surprised for the hate people are giving king of whys, i thought that was far and away his best album since at home with

Album Rating: 4.0

It’s really good, can’t believe the avg is all the way down to 3.4. Blasphemy

Ur welcome

Album Rating: 4.0

I will metaphorically shit on your chest

hmmm...

i imagine its warm

Album Rating: 4.0

This album needs more attention.

This has been growing on me

Album Rating: 3.5

Recent singles have been playing around with playful retro synths and ambiance. It's slightly off throwing in Beaucoup, but it's a really welcome change. Hyped!