Owel – Every Good Boy

By Ryan G

Bands taking a unique approach to instrumentation seems to have been a trend in my listening and choice of review habits lately. Sometimes publicists are really persistent about one particular band and you end up falling in love with a band. This review of OWEL is a result of persistence, and I’m glad I took the time to get to know this EP.

Let’s get the boring description out of the way: OWEL is a five piece band from New Jersey. Not boring is the fact that Every Good Boy was produced by Matt Watts, who has worked with As Tall As Lions and The Dear Hunter, amongst others. You know this EP is going to be beautiful just reading that.

It really makes more sense to look at Every Good Boy as one piece of art with four movements, if you will. I have a hard time separating the songs in my head. Often this means that the songs aren’t memorable but I’m entranced by them, so I wouldn’t say that. They aren’t exactly the type that you would expect to get stuck in your head, though a melodic theme might do that at times. The vocals at times border on emo, yet the music is very much post rock in its feel. A good comparison would be the band Anderson Cale out of Columbus, OH. Both bands are at times key driven and have strings, and put out compositions characterized by heartwarming crescendos.

Word on the street is OWEL is going to be doing a lot of touring. Good, because the world needs to get mesmerized. I have a good feeling about their live show. Also, I’m very curious to see how strings and glockenspiel would add to the dynamic of their stage performance. But, if a pianist can add to a post hardcore influenced emo band (The Foxery) I have high hopes for OWEL.

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