By: Staff
Stray Owls unleash their genre-defying album "When the Going Gets Weird"
The Stray Owls blast onto the scene with the album "When the Going Gets Weird" and we started off with "Hey Now Now" and watched the music video. From the opening instrumentation and visuals of this music video, we knew right away this band is like no other. The immediate irony lies in their refusal to be boxed in, yet using imagery of boxing to convey their message. As soon as the lyrics hit, “I heard you arguing with your neighbor next door, strategizing how to win the latest war", you realize there's a political undertone, making this all the more intriguing. The lead singer's vocal delivery immediately showcases their craftsmanship and rock 'n' roll authenticity. When you hit the first chorus of "Hey Now Now," it’s clear this is the kind of track you chant along to with your fist in the air during a live performance. Midway through the song, we’re treated to a David Bowie “Space Oddity”-esque infusion, with a sonic, surreal vibe that pairs perfectly with the wild imagery, delivering a completely tripped-out experience. What truly stands out is how this band makes you feel like you're floating on their sonic waves, carried by the music. The ending declaration and lyrical expression “we can do better” is bold and hits home hard.
Next up is "Daylight," which brings a heavy Beatles influence, but don't be mistaken, there’s a Nirvana-like edge sprinkled on top. The arrangement is intricate and complex, an absolute delight for the ears. The sheer creativity in the instrumentation makes you wonder, "How did they do that?" It's a masterful blend of genres and almost a mathematical computation of sound. By the time you hit the "Daylight" part of the song, you’ll be wondering how you ever missed this band. The finale, a combination of simultaneous solos, is an absolute explosion of energy, with each musician pushing boundaries while staying completely in sync. The result is a stunning, powerful climax.
Then we move to "Whatever Afterglow," a cosmic display of twinkling pianos that float in open air. When the beat drops and the lead vocals take center stage, the reverberating mix places the vocals perfectly in the middle, creating an eerie vibe that would fit right into a horror movie scene. The creepiness factor hits 1000. With over-ear headphones, the stereo mix delights, splitting the instruments as if they're playing on opposite sides of your brain. This track is an atmospheric journey that gently fades out, leaving you craving more.
"Ballad of a Middleman" keeps The Stray Owls true to their unpredictable nature, offering an irresistibly catchy but unconventional soliloquy of lyrics. It’s like a lyrical manifesto that twists and turns like a candy cane’s red and white stripes, always parallel but never in the same spot. When the song rises toward the center, the explosion of music feels like it’s lifting right off your ears, escalating into a massive wall of sound. The drums take the forefront here more than in any other track, and the way they manipulate the levels is genius. It feels like an auditory trip, and that’s exactly the right vibe.
"Larry David Lynch" kicks off with an intense beat that spins the listener around, creating the sensation that the song is playing backward. You might even feel like you’ve blacked out somewhere along the way. The drumbeat feels like a marching band in slow motion, and there’s a distinct jazz infusion here. The Stray Owls reject any and all boundaries in their music, yet when you hear them, you instantly know it’s them. The best way to describe this song is "acid on jazz," because you just can’t put jazz on acid.
The final track, "Keep Doing What You’re Doing," is a sonic sensation, driven by an organ that sustains and twists its way through the arrangement. You can hear hints of either a mandolin or ukulele, but to truly understand The Stray Owls, you’ll have to hear them firsthand. We had the chance to dive deeper into their music, so check out the interview below to learn even more about what makes this band so unique.
The Stray Owls' latest album, When the Going Gets Weird, delivers a captivating blend of psychedelic rock, folk, and avant-garde experimentation. This collection of tracks features stunning vocal harmonies and intricate instrumentation that seamlessly blends acoustic and electric elements. Songs like "Daylight," "Whatever Afterglow," and "Larry David Lynch" showcase their musical versatility. The band's fearless approach to genre fusion, alongside their masterful execution, creates an ethereal listening experience that transcends traditional boundaries of rock and experimental music.
You can find this release on any major platform, see below for links to take you straight to some of the profiles. Make sure to playlist, stream and share "When the Going Gets Weird" by Stray Owls.
Powerful Quote we found about this artist:
"Stray Owls “When the Going Gets Weird” is a psych-rock masterpiece, seamlessly levitating between various sonic universes while breaking all the rules of conventional and avant-garde music."
Wait… there's more!
We told you we had the chance to catch up with this exciting artist for an exclusive interview in "The Cage" Music Blog, where we discussed their music and got to know them better.
Here’s how it went:
BEGIN INTERVIEW:
Hello Stray Owls, we’re thrilled to have you for this interview! We've thoroughly enjoyed diving into your music and exploring your work, and now we’re even more eager to discover more about you, both personally and professionally.
Please tell us the names and roles of each band member.
Thanks for having us!! All three of us are songwriters, but when we play live, Scott plays guitar and sings, Jerry plays drums, keyboards, and sings, and Matt plays guitar, keys and sings. On the recordings we switch things up quite a bit.
Is there a story behind how you chose your artist name?
About 12 or 13 years ago while Scott and Matt were hanging out on Scott’s porch in Wilmington, NC at 2 about or 3 in the morning, they saw an owl and made eye contact with it while it was perched on a sign across the street. This happened before the band was fully formed, but left a mark, so a few “owl themed” names were kicked around until we eventually settled on Stray Owls.
Can you describe the type of music that Stray Owls plays and the genre(s) you represent? Are there different styles within your genre?
That’s a good question. Sometimes we’re kind of noisy and the last two albums have included a few extended instrumental interludes. On the other hand, some of our songs are kind of straightforward. At one point we were calling our genre “fuzz folk,” but now it’s just easier just to say we’re a psych rock band.
How did COVID impact the creative process for "When the Going Gets Weird," and how did it shape the final sound?
Our last album, Stray Owls Vs Time & Space was released in June of 2020, and was finished prior to the big lockdown in March of that year. Songs for that album had been developed between the three of us and worked out over a couple of years’ worth of shows. For When the Going Gets Weird, the three of us worked on our own, writing songs, which isn’t unusual, but we weren’t able to play any of these songs live before recording them. We’re happy with the way things turned out, but the process was strange. Eventually we were able to start overdubbing in the same space again, which fueled more ideas. What started out as an EP of 5 or 6 songs became this 12 song album over the span of a couple of years. The going was slow and meticulous, but we just kept adding songs. 95% of everything was recorded at Jerry’s Duck Kee Studio in Mebane, NC, (pronounced Meh-Bun) and the rest was recorded at Stairway to Mebane (aka Matt’s house).
Can you talk about the collaborative energy between band members when creating this record, especially during the times when you couldn’t meet in person?
It was odd, but honestly it was nice to still be able to focus on the band at a time when we couldn’t practice in the same room, and for the three of us to continue to have this creative outlet at a time when so many things around us were up in the air.
What was it like working with Corbie Hill on the spoken word piece in "Elemental Static"?Corbie’s a writer and musician based in nearby Pittsboro, NC and has been a friend of the band since…2017, maybe? You should all go listen to his band Land Is on bandcamp, right now!!! We had a long and noisy instrumental recording, and after reading Corbie’s inspiring poem, “198 words about bodysurfing” asked if he would mind recording himself reading it aloud, so we could try out “this weird thing” and he was into it. Jerry manipulated Corbie’s recording sparingly…and the song was absolutely finished after adding it.
What role did improvisation play in shaping the songs, especially in moments like the extended outro of "Hey Now, Now"?
It's important. All of the interlude recordings are based on improvisations and include multiple layers of overdubs. We also like to leave in those little bits of spontaneity in our recordings. The ending of “Hey Now Now” and intro to “Scapegoats” are good examples of that.
What inspired the lyrics of "Ballad of a Middleman," especially the line about being "an extra in the movie of some Replicant’s dream"?
That’s a long story and it gets boring, but basically the line was an excuse for us to use a Blade Runner reference…and no one wants to be in a robot’s dream, that much I do know.
With the growing use of technology, some artists feel overwhelmed by its impact on music creation and correction. How do you feel about it? Does it help or hinder your artistic process?
We’re neutral, because we don’t focus on technology since it’s constantly changing. It’s best to keep things simple.
If there were one thing you could change about the music industry, what would it be?
Not sure if this counts, but Mtv shouldn’t have stopped playing music videos. At least bring back 120 Minutes!
Most people love or hate social media—where do you land?
Right between acceptance and indifference. It’s a nice place to visit but there’s no reason to trust any of the algorithms.
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared this artist’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!
Check out this latest release and listen to more of Stray Owls on Spotify & YouTube.
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