The King of Whys is Mike Kinsella's ninth LP as Owen, and his first to be recorded wholly outside of metropolitan Chicago. Instead, it was assembled at April Base Studios in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, home of indie folk band Bon Iver, whose drummer, S. Carey, produced the record. The release also showcases a fuller band sound provided by several guests, including Carey, who plays multiple instruments here. Kinsella's distinctive, vulnerable delivery is still intact, though, with self-doubt and private apologies among the lyrics ...
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The King of Whys is Mike Kinsella's ninth LP as Owen, and his first to be recorded wholly outside of metropolitan Chicago. Instead, it was assembled at April Base Studios in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, home of indie folk band Bon Iver, whose drummer, S. Carey, produced the record. The release also showcases a fuller band sound provided by several guests, including Carey, who plays multiple instruments here. Kinsella's distinctive, vulnerable delivery is still intact, though, with self-doubt and private apologies among the lyrics. Though it opens with acoustic guitar, "Empty Bottle" features a pulsing rhythm section and electric guitar, along with female backing vocals. The song lightens for passages about sleep and dreaming that are accompanied by pitch bends and melodic keyboards. In contrast to that track's weighty rhythms, "Tourniquet" has arpeggiated acoustic guitar and offset keys that come together in polyrhythms that float under vocals ("This tourniquet hasn't stopped the bleeding yet/I fear that I might lose a limb/Or a wife/Or whatever's left inside"). The more spacious "An Island" brings acoustic guitar, pedal steel, spare piano and trombone, and light synths to one of the quieter offerings. There isn't a single solo acoustic-guitar ballad in the set, but even with the ramped-up accompaniment, The King of Whys is still more intimate than any of Kinsella's prior bands, like American Football or Owls, or even Joan of Arc. The album is otherwise not likely to stand out among Owen's catalog, but it's still an affecting and worthwhile effort from an artist who's as reliably tuneful as candid. ~ Marcy Donelson, Rovi
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Add this copy of The King of Whys to cart. $5.26, new condition, Sold by newtownvideo rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from huntingdon valley, PA, UNITED STATES, published 2016 by Polyvinyl Records.
Add this copy of The King of Whys to cart. $18.40, new condition, Sold by Importcds rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Sunrise, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2016 by Polyvinyl.
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Owen [Mike Kinsella. New. New in new packaging. USA Orders only! Brand New product! please allow delivery times of 3-7 business days within the USA. US orders only please.
Add this copy of The King of Whys to cart. $22.74, new condition, Sold by newtownvideo rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from huntingdon valley, PA, UNITED STATES, published 2016 by Polyvinyl Records.
Add this copy of The King of Whys to cart. $48.58, new condition, Sold by Entertainment by Post - UK rated 1.0 out of 5 stars, ships from BRISTOL, SOUTH GLOS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2016.
